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Héctor J. Torres attended St. John’s University and graduated in 1973 with a B.S. in Art Education. After graduation, he designed the curriculum for several community education programs that focused on bilingual, bi-cultural education for inner-city elementary and pre-school students. Héctor co-authored a Department of Health, Education, and Welfare-funded program focused on bi-culturalism through art which was used in pre-school centers in the South Bronx and other neighborhoods in New York serving the Latino community.

He served as an art teacher for grades 9–12 at Jamaica High School in the NYC school system, a part time lecturer of art history at St. John’s University, and an instructor of studio drawing classes at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. While on a successful 49-year career as an executive in hotel management in Washington, DC and New York City, Héctor took every opportunity to create works to nurture his passion for artistic expression and supporting the arts. His work ranges in style and medium while using color as the main feature. Héctor draws on influences from multiple sources and concepts focusing mostly on non-figurative. He retired from the hospitality industry in 2018, and currently works as a freelance artist and as an advocate for the arts and education. A DC Resident for over 43 years, Héctor believes in active participation and has or currently serves on various boards including those of GALA Hispanic Theatre, Destination DC, Washington Performing Arts, Identity, Carlos Rosario International Charter School, Commission on The Arts and Humanities, and èßäAVCommunity Advisory Board.