Meet The Artists

Gallery Fifty Six is currently exhibiting a two-person show for the month of May, 2012. Memphis artist Emery Franklin and Louisville artist Joyce Garner  share the main gallery for an exciting show of their work.


Emery Franklin is a graduate of Booker T. Washington High School in Memphis. He has been featured on WKNO’s Tennessee Crossroads television series, the National Civil Rights Museum and the Vesta Home Show in the past few years. Recently one of his paintings was used for advertising the Memphis Africa in April festival. He has recently published a book that he illustrated with his paintings titled Crossroads: From Sagging To Success, which is available from Amazon.com. Mr. Franklin is represented by Gallery Fifty Six, and various other galleries in the United States. Emery’s work exemplifies the rich heritage of African-Americans, juxtaposed with references to today’s popular culture.

Joyce Garner is a native Kentuckian. Her earliest influences were American pop culture (television, comics, and coloring books), fairy tales, children’s novels and Appalachian craft traditions. Joyce describes her work as ‘A world of my own making.’ Garner has had 14 solo exhibitions since 1991. In 2011, Joyce opened ‘Garner Narrative Contemporary Fine Art’ in the center of Louisville’s gallery district with Angie Reed Garner as gallery director. She continues to paint in the space and allows visitors access to her creative process.

The exhibition runs until May 28, 2012.  Hours are Wed. through Fri. from noon until 4 PM and Sat. from 11 AM to 4 PM.  Call 901-276-1251