About
About Nancy Kay Turner
Nancy Kay Turner is a visual artist, art critic, and founder of the art collective Hana Kark. Bronx born, she fled New York for the sun and fun of California and has never looked back. A graduate of Queens College, the University of California at Berkeley, and The Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, she studied painting with Elmer Bischoff, Peter Saul and R.B. KItaj.
Turner has written critical reviews for ARTWEEK, ARTSCENE, Visions Magazine, Coagula Curatorial, Riot Material, Art and Cake, and Cultural Weekly. Her mixed-media work has been in local, national, international and traveling exhibits. Turner’s art is in private, public and corporate collections, including Warner Brothers Studios, ABC Studio and Chiat/Day Advertising Agency: and are seen in movies and television shows among them –Mom, Barry, Jane The Virgin, Transparent, How To Get Away With Murder, Lucifer and Hanging Up. ARTPIC gallery represents Turner.
Turner’s work is in Collage Care: Transforming Emotions and Life Experiences With Collage, We Are Home: Community Quilt Project, Art Doesn’t Have To Match Your Sofa, Volume #3, She Votes, Studio Visit, Volume 47,The Power of Feminist Art, Crossing The Borders: Feminism and the Art of Social Concern, Cultural Deconstructions: Critical Issues in Collage, Life Drawing: A Sketchbook and Textbook, A Community Of Angels. Her essays are in the “Perceive Me” Catalog and her review Southern Discomfort: The Photographs of Sally Mann is in the first print issue of Riot Material. A transcription of her artist lecture at The Oceanside Museum of Art, on the artist Roland Reiss is archived at The Smithsonian Museum. Turner lives in Pasadena with her husband Hoyt Hilsman and maintains a studio in DTLA and in Pasadena.
NANCY KAY TURNER
nkayturner@gmail.com
nancyturnerstudio.com
@nancykayturner
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
EXHIBITIONS
2022 Archeology of The Soul, Shelley Heffler Contemporary, Cathedral City, CA
2020 Archeology of The Soul, Yavaipai College Prescott Gallery, Prescott, AZ
2011 Getting it Together, curator Lizzy Bloom, Platt/Borstein Gallery, American Jewish University, LA
2008 Paper Trail Redux, SCA Project Gallery, Pomona, CA
2007 Rubbing Her the Wrong Way, curator Nina Jun, SCA Project Gallery, Pomona, CA (
2003 Dark Decade, Transport Gallery, curator Mike Russek, Los Angeles, CA
2002 Devil’s Arithmetic, El Portal Theater, North Hollywood, CA
Burnt Offerings, Wild Oats Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
1999 Out of the Ashes, Hannon Theater, Los Angeles, CA
1997 Devil’s Arithmetic, Garland Theater, Pasadena, CA
1988 Retroactive, Grant Art Gallery, North Hollywood, CA
Works on Paper, Glendale Community College Art Gallery, Glendale, CA
1987 Pool Anxiety, Glendale Community College Art Gallery, Glendale, CA
Small Works, The Grant Art Gallery, Grant High School, Van Nuys, CA
1979 Southern California Dream and Diary Pieces, Spectrum Gallery, San Diego, CA
2 PERSON EXHIBITIONS
2024 Sigma, Nancy Kay Turner/Michael Falzone, curator Jonna Lee, Roswell Space, Los Angeles, CA
2022 Still Water, Nancy Kay Turner/Toti O’Brien, curator Jonna Lee, Roswell Space, Los Angeles, CA
2007 Nancy Turner and Aaron White, ArtPic Gallery, curator Marina Kessler, North Hollywood, CA
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2026 Artifacts of an Unborn Civilization curators Jason Jenn/V. Radovanovic, The Brand Library
Diverted Destruction: curator Liz Gordon, The Loft at Liz, Los Angeles
Resurrection; Beckoning the Crone, curator Leslie Brown, Orange County Center for Contemporary Art.
Perceive Me, curator Kristine Schomaker, The Start Up Art Fair, Venice, CA
Call and Response, curator Kristine Schomaker, The Start Up Art Fair, Venice, CA
2025 Winter Garden, curator Genie Davis, Not Shockboxx, Hermosa Beach, CA
Mother Memory, curator Toti Obrien, Wonzimer, Los Angeles, CA
Better Together, curator Aaron Schulte, Disney Gallery,
Many Hands, Many Journeys, curator J. West, Andi Campognone, Kahilu Theater Callery, Hi.
NOMAD IV, Contemporary Painting and sculpture, curator Max Presneil, Torrance CA.
TRYST, Kipaipai Fellows, curator Andi Campognone, Torrance, CA
Imagine, JAI, curator Cathy Weiss, Gallery 945, Los Angeles, CA
Windswept, curator Genie Davis, Wonzimer, Los Angeles, CA
2024 NOMAD III, contemporary Painting and Sculpture, curator Max Presneil, Torrance, CA
2023 Incantation, Orange County Center for Contemporary Art, curator Chenhung Chen, Santa Ana, CA
Contemplating Boundaries, curator Mika Cho, Korean Cultural Center, Los Angeles, CA
Where Earth Becomes Aether, curators Jason Jenn/Vojislav Radovanovic, Wonzimer Gallery, LA. CA
UCLA Hillel Art Gallery, Jewish Artists Capturing Sense of Community, Los Angeles, CA
2022 Chai, USC Hillel Art Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Melissa Morgan Gallery, KIPAIPAI Group Show, curator Melissa Morgan, Palm Desert, CA
Memory of Tomorrow’s Sunrise, Ronald H. Silverman Fine Arts Gallery, curators Jason Jenn/ Vojislav Radovanovic, Cal State LA, CA
A Practical Guide to Parlour Games & Magic, Jason Jenn/Vojislav Radovanovic, The Loft at Liz, LA.
2021 The Scribes Artist Books, Curators John O’Brien and Jonna Lee, Roswell Space, Los Angeles, CA
Black and White, curator Shana Nys Dambrot, Site: Brooklyn Gallery, NY
Perceive Me, Traveling Exhibit, curator Kristine Schomaker Coastline Community College Art Gallery, Newport Beach, CA; Exhibition Color Catalog p.30-33, p.62-63
Beginnings With No Endings: Hope and Optimism, curator Molly Schulman
2020 SCWCA Quilt, Museum of Art and History (MOAH: Cedar), Lancaster, CA
Perceive Me Invitational, curator Kristine Schomaker, Ronald H. Silverman Fine Arts Gallery, LA. CA
Chroma 2.0, Bunny Gunnar Gallery, Claremont, CA
2019 Let Me Eat Cake Two, curator Kristine Schomaker, Blue /roof Studios, Los Angeles, CA
Water, Air, Earth, Fire, Dual Gallery, Budapest, Hungary
Lemiuex Gallery, Hana Kark, curator Ric Kasini-Kadour, New Orleans, LA
Collapse Gallery, Hana Kark, curator Ric Kasini-Kadour, Washington, D.C.
Collaboratory, Hana Kark, Glendale College, Glendale, CA
2018 Let Me Eat Cake, curator Kristine Schomaker, Post gallery, Bendix Building, Los Angeles, CA
Route, Rut, Lane: A Karkhana Colloboration, Shoebox Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2014 Black and White, SCA Project Gallery, Pomona, CA
2013 AP Invitational, Utah State University, Salt Lake City, UT
2011 Library Thoughts, Raday Konyveshaz Gallery, Budapest, Hungary
2010 Your Documents Please, Traveling Exhibit; Paris, Yokohama, Japan; Budapest, Hungary; Berlin, Germany; Bratislava, Slovakia; Guadalajara, Mexico – curators Daniel Georges/Rumiko Tsuda http://yourdocumentsplease.com/pages/catalog/turner.html
2009 Beyond Toys International, curator Sylvia White Gallery, Ventura, CA
Show & Tell: The Art of Language, Lita Albuquerque, Alison Saar, Peter Shire, John
Outterbridge, curator Victor Raphael, Zimmer Children’s Museum, Los Angeles, CA; color catalogue
Insight/Inside L.A. Art, Jose Drudis -Biada Art Gallery, exh color cat.; curator Jody Baral, Mount St. Mary’s College, Los Angeles, CA
2008 Conventions and Attitudes, California Institute of the Arts, curator Karen Atkinson, Valencia, CA
2007 Pillow Talk, Ruth Bachofner Gallery, curator Maryl Lynn McCorkle, Santa Monica, CA
After the F Word: Art After Feminism, I-5 Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2003 Spiritual Surface, Absolute Art Gallery, San Marino, CA. (2 person)
Yom Hashoah, Bornstein Gallery, University of Judaism, Los Angeles, CA (3 person)
Mentors, Glendale Community College Art Gallery, Glendale, CA
The Grid, Transport Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Group Exhibit, Drudis-Biada Art Gallery, curator Jody Baral, Mount St. Mary’s College, LA. CA
1997 Into the Light, Glendale Community College Art Gallery, Glendale, CA
1992 Group Show, curator Scott Canty, Downey Museum of Art, Downey CA
Group Show, Brand Art Library, Glendale, CA
Arroyo Arts Collective First Juried Show, Los Angeles, CA
Through the Looking Glass, The Woman’s Building, Los Angeles, CA
1988 conTEXT, Art by LA Art Critics, curator Craig Krull, Robert Berman Gallery, Los Angeles, CA AWoman’s View, Glendale Community College Art Gallery, Glendale, CA
1987 AE/LA ’87, Harbor Community College, Los Angeles, CA
1986 Faculty Exhibition, Glendale Community College Art Gallery, Glendale, CA
Mentors, Brand Art Library, Glendale, CA
1985 Summer Faculty Exhibit, Woods-Gerry Gallery, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI
AE/LA Direction ‘85, Helen Lindquist Gallery, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
1984 California Bookwork’s: The Last Five Years, curator Judith Hoffberg, Otis/Parsons Art Institute, LA.CA
1983 At Home, Long Beach Museum, curator Arlene Raven, Long Beach, CA
1981 First Annual Invitational Exhibition, Conejo Valley Art Museum, Canoga Park, CA
Hot Stuff, Hama Gallery, Venice, CA
1980 On and Off Broadway, L.A.C.E. Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Illusions and Delusions of LA, Traction Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Artists Books and Drawings, E.C. Windward Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Women/Women/Works, Women’s Building, Los Angeles, CA
1979 Artists’ Christmas Ornaments Invitational, San Diego Museum of Art, San Diego, CA
Mask Invitational, Celebrations Gallery, San Diego, CA
Artists’ All Media Exhibition, San Diego Museum of Art, San Diego, CA
Second Far Western Crafts Exhibit, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT
Small Images, Gallery 8, La Jolla, CA
Words and Images, Carlsbad Public Library, Carlsbad, CA
1978 California Craftsmen, Monterey Peninsula Museum of Art, Montery , CA
37th Annual Cedar City National Art Exhibit, Santa Barbara City College, Santa Barbara, CA
RESIDENCIES/WORKSHOPS
2023 360 Xochi Quetzal Residency, Lake Chapala, MX
2021 Kipaipai Workshop
2019 Artist Residency/Hana Kark Art Collective, Glendale College, CA
2015 Emandal Residency, Mendocino, CA
1966 The Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Skowhegan, Maine
GALLERY REPRESENTATION
ARTPIC Gallery, North Hollywood, CA
ART CRITICISM
Published over 200 art reviews in print and online publications, including riotmaterial.com, artandcakela.com, Artscene, Artweek, Visions Magazine, Coagula Art Journal Publications
PUBLICATIONS
“Echoes of Yesterday” An Art Book by Photo Trouvée Magazine. Naufel Juliana and Boyer Twiggy.
Kanyer, Laurie, MA, “College Care: Transforming Emotions and Life Experiences with Collage
Kanyer Publishing, 2021, p.89
Heffler, Shelley, “We Are Home,” Community Quilt Project, 2021, p.101
Schaub, Kelly, “Art Doesn’t Have To Match Your Sofa, Volume 3: From Sea To Shining Sea.”
December 20, 2020
Smith, Bonnie J., “She Votes, 100th Anniversary of the 19th amendment” SCWCA, 2020, p. 125
Zevitas, Steven T., “Studio Visit Volume 47”, 2020, p. 181
Lazzari, Margaret, Schlesier, Dona, Life Drawing: A Sketch and Textbook, 2019, p. 151
Turner, Nancy Kay, “Southern Discomforts: The Photographs of Sally Mann, Riot material 2019
Turner, Nancy Kay, “Fat Stuff; Confessions of an Overeater,” P. 30-33, 2019
Schomaker, Kristine, “Perceive Me”, p. 62, 2019
Kadour, Ric Kasini, Critical Issues in Collage: Cultural Deconstructions, P. 30-32, 2019
Raphael, Victor, “Show & Tell: the art of language,” an international exhibit, p. 140-1, 2009
Turner, Nancy Kay, “Universe Of: Nancy Kay Turner,” Interview for THE Magazine,
Los Angeles, December 2008
Brown, Betty Ann, “Nancy Kay Turner: Maps of Memory and Grids of Time,”
Coagula An Art Journal #86, June 2007, p. 26
Tenden, Marnie, “A Community of Angels, Los Angeles,” 2001, p. 138
Broude, Norma and Garrard, Mary D., “The Power of Feminist Art,”
Henry N. Abrams 1994, p. 63-64
Jones, Amalia, “War on Words,” LA Weekly, July,1987, p.57
Raven, Arlene, “Crossing the Borders: Feminism and the Art of Social Concern,” 1983, p.88
Raven, Arlene, “At Home” Catalogue, 1983, p.5
Crane, Trish, “The Artists’ Picture Book,” Valley News, August 1, 1980
Davis, Bruce, “Artists’ Books for Looking,” ARTWEEK, August 2, 1990
Jennings, Jan, “Art Arena,” San Diego Union, April 10, 1980
Wasserman, Isabelle, “Currents,” San Diego Union, July 8, 1980
CURATORIAL EXPERIENCE
2018 Route, Rut, Lane: A Karkhana Collaboration, Shoebox Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2005 Juror, Faculty Grants Committee, Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA
1990 Director, Glendale Community College Art Gallery, Glendale, CA
PANELS/ARTIST LECTURE
2019 Oceanside Museum of Art, on Roland Reiss, July 13, 2019
(Transcription) archived at The Smithsonian
2008 Columbia College of Chicago: Art + Design, “The Artist as Teacher,” Chicago
2007 Intentional Conversation for Artists (panelist), “Beautiful Dreams/Terrible Beauty: Creating Art From Our Lives in the 21st Century,” Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral, Los Angeles, CA
Columbia Scholastic Press Convention (presenter) New York, NY
2005 National Critics Conference (dance, theater, art, music, film), Los Angeles, CA
Intentional Conversation for Artists (organizer), Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral, Los Angeles,
2005 Juror, Faculty Grants Committee, Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA
1987 Panelist, “Incorporation of Text in Art,” Robert Berman Gallery, Santa Monica,
Chair, “Artist as Teacher,” California Association of Independent Schools,
1985 Panelist, “On Creativity in Art Education,” CAIS, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
ORGANIZATIONAL AFFILIATIONS
2018- Southern California Women’s Caucus of the Arts, NWCA
1990-95 The Arroyo Arts Collective, Pasadena,
1988-95 The Women’s Caucus for the Arts, Los Angeles Chapter, CA
1988-89 The Gallery Committee, The Woman’s Building, Los Angeles, CA
1987-88 Board of Directors, The Woman’s Building, Los Angeles, CA
1985-88 California Association of Art Educators (CAEA) Los Angeles, CA
1984-87 Executive Board, Art Educators of Los Angeles (AELA), Los Angeles, CA
1990-91 AICA, The American section of The Association for International Art Critics
EDUCATION
Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture – residency scholarship, Skowhegan, ME
B.A., Queens College, City University of New York, NY
M.A., University of California, Berkeley, CA
