Painter and installation artist Carlton Scott Sturgill has always been good at drawing. But like many creatives, Sturgill thought he couldn’t make a living as an artist. “So, when I went to college, I wanted to do something related to that, which was aeronautical engineering,” says Sturgill, a Cincinnati native. “And that was a disaster.” At the time, Sturgill didn’t know he was dyslexic. The challenge of keeping up with the course reading led him to abandon college. A pivotal moment arrived during a trip to London, where a Rembrandt self-portrait deeply moved him. Sturgill says, “I totally lost it in the middle of the gallery.”
After earning his undergraduate degree at the University of Cincinnati, Sturgill established his first studio in Cincinnati. He pursued graduate studies at Chelsea College of Art and Design in London, later relocating to Brooklyn. The allure of New Orleans, where he and his wife became engaged in 1996, eventually drew them south. The couple moved in 2015. “It was the best decision that we’ve ever made,” he says. “This is home.” New Orleans profoundly influences Sturgill’s artistic approach, especially regarding craft. He notes the city’s dedication to detailed artistry, even Mardi Gras throws such as Muses shoes. “I realized I needed to up my game when it comes to detail and quality,” Sturgill says. This dedication to craft is central to his hard-edged abstract paintings, which often take months to complete.
It was during his second stint at college that Sturgill learned he had dyslexia, and the learning disability has ultimately informed his art. “One of the things that has overdeveloped in me is shape,” says Sturgill. “Because that’s how I see things.” This unique perception allows him to discern subtle differences in hues and values, which is evident in his paint chip mosaic paintings and more recent abstract works. “Color and shape are my language that I am strongest with.”
Sturgill’s passion for his work, coupled with a supportive wife, community and representation at Ferrara Showman Gallery, allows him to navigate the thing that initially deterred him from pursuing art — the inherent instability of an artistic career. Now, his commitment to art is unwavering. “If I never sold another piece of art in my life,” Sturgill says. “I would still want to do this.”