«Art is power,» affirms Danny Torres

After garnering multiple successes in various cities across the United States, Puerto Rican muralist Danny Torres unveiled the «Casa Pueblo Mural Project» in collaboration with the Creative Economy Center in his hometown. This mural graces one of Puerto Rico’s oldest roads, used since Taíno times as a mountain pathway, and later by Spaniards and Americans. The artist, who is returning to Philadelphia to showcase his work at the Esperanza Gallery, has left an indelible mark on the Puerto Rican art scene.

Born in the picturesque town of Adjuntas, Puerto Rico, Danny Torres is a self-taught graphic artist, painter, and muralist with over 50 years of experience. His life and art have been a constant ode to Puerto Rican culture, a passion that has accompanied him since his earliest strokes and has now become his banner for cultural advocacy in the diaspora.

Upon completing high school, Torres began his career as an illustrator for the Puerto Rico Department of Education at the tender age of 20. Simultaneously, he was a collaborating member and co-founder of Taller de Arte y Cultura, an environmental organization where he headed the art and promotion department.

Seeking new artistic experiences, he ventured to Chicago, where he painted his first mural outside of Puerto Rico. Subsequently, he moved to Philadelphia, where he began creating politically charged murals in collaboration with organizations such as Boricua Human Rights Network and Taller Puertorriqueño. In this city, in addition to teaching art in an after-school program, he honed his skills and forged strong ties within the artistic community. This led to collaborations on art projects with various social and cultural organizations including KJAC, Congreso, APM, Mural Art Program, Nueva Esperanza, Centro Pedro Claver, Centro Juan Antonio Corretjer and the Pennsylvania State Museum.

Throughout his artistic career, he has been recognized and awarded numerous times. Among his achievements are the Hispanic Choice Awards, presented by the City Council, and his selection as one of Pennsylvania’s «Top 100 influencers.» However, the award he cherishes most is the one he received for defending Puerto Rican culture in Philadelphia.

Torres’ traditional style, along with others he has explored, has allowed him to capture the traditions, scenes, and landscapes of his beloved island and its people, keeping them alive for present and future generations. Through his works, he preserves the essence of Puerto Rico and invites viewers to experience Puerto Rican identity with pride and nostalgia.

“My approach to art began in my earliest years, even though I didn’t know it at the time. I was three years old when I started making marks on paper, and in this exhibition, you’ll have the opportunity to see this first drawing, never before seen by the public. Throughout my school years, I continued drawing and completing school projects for my classmates, which also served as self-education. With practice, I refined what I was discovering stroke by stroke, and this has continued until today,” the artist shares with Impacto.

“My work has always been focused on exalting Boricua culture, its traditions, and its defense, for the simple reason that when we live in the diaspora, we tend to forget who we are and assimilate into other cultures. While learning from other cultures is not a bad thing, it is important to preserve our heritage for future generations,” he explains.

For this defender of Puerto Rican culture, his art has been instrumental in his goals. “Through my work, I try to convey the message of Puerto Rican identity, of patriotic pride, and to let everyone know that we are a very special people who have contributed greatly to the development of humanity. Although many may not want to acknowledge it, we are very special and have much more to offer to the societies where we develop. Moreover, if you search Google for the ‘perfect race,’ you’d be surprised by the answer,” he proudly affirms.

When asked what advice he would give to aspiring artists, he shared: “For young people who want to develop as artists and make a living from art, I always tell them to make time to practice. As a saying on my math teacher’s blackboard read, ‘Practice makes perfect.’ I didn’t apply it to math, but I did to art. At least an hour a day will help you educate yourself. Moreover, today you have educational tools that I didn’t have back then. In short, choose the branch of art you want to excel in, educate yourself academically, and prepare your path for the future, because art is power!” he concludes.