Detour Gallery welcomes you to experience the solo exhibition of the talented Willie Torbert. Native to Buffalo, New York, Torbert studied at the Pratt Institute, City University of New York and Medgar Evers College, New York and went on to teach within the New York City Board of Education for ten years.

Due to his dedication to the children of Brooklyn he received an award of citation from the Borough President. Inspired by his cultural heritage, Torbert has developed his authenticity as a self-taught collage artist. The artist is known for producing highly stylized representations of African American life with scenes of street life, musicians, and heroic figures. Torbert finds inspiration from other major black artists such as Romare Bearden.

Torbert has been honored by the Nubian Women’s Art Circle for his outstanding contributions to the advancement of the art of the African Diaspora. His works are found in the collections of Medgar Evers College, Philip Morris Company, the Mutual Benefit Insurance Company, Newark, NJ, and the Equitable Life-Whitney Museum Collection.