NOW to JUNE 28 | "Life in DC," by Roderick Turner at Honfleur Gallery

The solo exhibition is presented in collaboration with Honfleur Gallery and Valley Place Arts Collaborative. Through oil paintings, Turner captures decades of transformation in Washington, DC, focusing on the Southeast neighborhoods that have shaped his life and artistic vision. The exhibit runs May 24 to June 28, 2025.

A longtime resident of DC since the 1980s, Turner is known for his immersive, evolving documentation of DC's landscapes and culture. His new body of work chronicles the subtle yet profound changes across city streets, buildings, and everyday spaces, challenging viewers to reflect on the consequences of gentrification and urban redevelopment.

At the heart of Life in DC is a powerful visual narrative: cityscapes portrayed from the same vantage points over time reveal how neighborhoods like 9th Street SE and the Wharf have morphed from tree-lined calm to modern density. Anchored by a singular portrait of an “unknown pianist,” the exhibition honors the layered history and humanity of the District beyond monuments and politics.

“These paintings are my story—my visual journal,” Turner says. “They might seem like simple urban scenes, but they carry the soul of a city in flux. One day, future generations will look at these and understand where they come from.”

Inspired by Claude Monet's work, Turner, artist-in-residence in Giverny, France, brings that same spirit of place-making to his adopted home in DC. Despite increasing challenges as a working artist in the city, he remains deeply committed to preserving its memory through paint.