Isabel Turban

Abstract Map I Diptych Mixed Media on Canvas with Urban Lines in Charcoal Tones

2017

Abstract painter Isabel Turban grew up traveling between neighboring countries Uruguay and Argentina for much of her life, so much so that the experience nestled itself into each aspect of her art. By first transferring images of maps onto canvas or paper, then applying layers of acrylic and charcoal in gestural strokes, Turban creates detailed images that invite viewers to examine closely and reflect on their own personal histories and travels.

Turban majored in Industrial Design at Centro de Diseño Industrial in Montevideo, Uruguay, and graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1996. Post-graduation, Turban became active in the local art community and worked alongside fellow Uruguayan artist Carlos Paez Vilaro who ran a well-known atelier, Casapueblo, in Punta del Este. No stranger to travel, Turban decided to move to New York City around 2001 when she enrolled in the Art Students League — an independent art school offering atelier-style studio classes that cover a wide range of artistic mediums. 

The Art Students League does not set a curriculum for its instructors and is a place that affords students the opportunity to decide their own path. This structure has appealed to legions of artists over time, and while there, Turban studied with painter Charles Hinman, illustrator Jack Faragasso and installation artist Mariano Del Rosario.

The maps Turban uses in her work owe to travels she has taken and evoke specific cultural experiences for the artist. The Art Students League awarded Turban the Merit Scholarship, the Donn Russell Grant and the Red Dot Distinction.

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