Elsa Turner was born in Chicago, Illinois. She has lived in Rock Hill, S.C. since the 1960’s. She received an M.F.A. from Winthrop University in 1994. Her mid-career and later work is primarily abstract. Many of the pieces show her exploration into textures of various materials. Trips to the American Southwest and to Europe have strongly influenced her work. Notable series she has produced include Earth Poems, Earth Echoes, Orbs, and Spanish Fever. Her work can now be found in collections across the US and overseas.