Born in Christchurch, Wellington-based sculptor Johnny Turner has travelled the world sourcing stone and undertaking public and private commissions.

Inspired by his mentors – but largely self-taught – Turner works with hard volcanic and metamorphic rock to produce enduring works of art.

His work is influenced by the passage of time and the notion of giving new life to ancient materials drawn from deep within the earth.  Turner draws his inspiration from a range of diverse source material ranging from classical history to indigenous mythology and the Japanese aesthetic.

Turner works with and against the notions of hardness, weight and the coldness of marble and stone to bring out the soft detail and colouring of each unique piece. Graduating grains, soft speckled colourings and contrasting textures run through his work.

Turner has won numerous prizes for his sculpture and has produced public artworks in a number of different countries including Hong Kong, Russia, Germany, France, the USA and the United Kingdom.

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