William Turner: Conversations with the Elders
October 11, 2025 - January 11, 2026 — Benaroya Glass Gallery
Curated by Christian Waguespack
Turner is an artist with deep roots in the Northwest. A native of Tacoma, he attended the University of Puget Sound in 1965 and earned his Master of Arts degree from the University of Washington in 1973. His vision is informed by thoughtful observation of the world around him, with inspiration pulled from a deep engagement with art history with echoes of the past masters manifesting in Turner’s form and content, and a lifelong appreciation for jazz music, translated into his paintings through dynamic rhythm, energy, and an openness to improvisation.
William Turner’s work is defined by bold plains of color, energetic brushwork, and a sharp sense of humor. As an artist, Turner was a careful observer and passionate student of art history, translating lessons from past masters into his own vibrant visual language. In William Turner: Conversations with the Elders, the artist took inspiration from a powerful encounter with El Greco's painting 'Vincenzo Anastagi' in the Frick Collection, New York. Entering into conversation with El Greco’s painting, Turner reimagines Anastagi in a variety of situations, some humorous, others more serious, but all alive with color and vigor.
William Turner, A Velazquez in Every Home, 1984, oil on canvas, 54 1/4"x 60"
William Turner, Casual Friday Vincenzo Anastagi (after El Greco), 2012, Acrylic on canvas, 36” x 34”
Pictured at top: Detail of William Turner, Self Portrait, oil on canvas