A local artist will return to his roots this week as a show of his work opens at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts.

“Down Home: Retrospective” by Winston Harris will have an opening reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the center, 110 W. Finney Ave. It will remain on view through Feb. 20.

Harris grew up on Elwood Road and graduated from Forest Glen High School in 1979.

“I look forward to the opportunities to dedicate this exhibit/lecture of my artwork to my parents, Rufus and Helen Harris Sr.,” Harris said in an emailed response to questions. “It’s my way of giving back to the city and citizens that has influenced my foundation. I’m very excited about this exhibit.”

Harris is known for his work as a contemporary printmaker. He said he enjoys combining traditional processes such as lithographs, silkscreen and more with digital processes and hand-coloring with mediums such as watercolors or colored pencils.

“I applied different elements to display a transition such as introducing two disciplines into one format, transforming two-dimensional prints into three-dimensional forms, combining different mediums and reinventing the image by recycling past artwork into a new identity,” he said. “Transforming and/or producing two-dimensional prints requires me to incorporate irregular shapes, removing white space from the print, separating the images, collage and overlapping the images, adding color and digital imagery.”

Harris said he draws inspiration from his parents as well as mentors.

“I’ve made what I believe to be technical breakthroughs from working with established artists from diverse disciplines in order to expand my professional development as a printmaker,” he said. “Through their inspiration, I will continue to develop artwork of substance.”

He said he hopes to inspire others just as he has been inspired.

“I feel confident that the artwork/exhibition presented will serve to promote, motivate, inspire and educate participants by introducing some very unique concepts from both an academic and professional perspective. I hope that this exhibition will serve as inspiration to others and will continue to provide opportunities to help develop artwork of substance.”

Harris holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in painting and printmaking from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Master of Fine Arts degree in printmaking from Howard University. He currently resides in Maryland.

Center Executive Director Jackie Cherry said she’s excited about the exhibit.

“We thought leading off our 2016 season with a local artist would be terrific,” she said, adding that everybody sees something different in Harris three-dimensional works.

The Suffolk Center is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 923-0003 for more information.