Hiya! My name is Torrey Smith (Nohner) and I am a writer, artist, and creative based in Omaha, NE, where I live with my husband, Mitch, and our Great Pyrenees, Poe.

I received my B.A. in History and Writing, from Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA in 2014, and then completed my M.A. in the Critical Theory and Creative Research Program at the Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland, OR in 2015.  My thesis, "Quote Culture and the Community of Mind: Towards a Critique of the Quippie," focuses on specific modes of idealism and elitism in digital language use, in particular, the appropriation of quotations within social media as identity markers, belief signatures, and formulaic acts.

Since 2014, I have been busy exploring the world of embroidery, cross-stitch, and fiber-based art, early on focusing on anatomical, floral, and geometric themes and primarily working in a reverse blackwork style (white thread on black fabric). I’ve shown my work with Nadia Shinkunas at the little gallery in Omaha in February 2017 as part of a collective show, Oscillating Bodies. In Spring 2017 and 2018, I was chosen as one of the Amplify Arts’ CSArtists. For that program, in 2017, I created a series of 50 unique fiber art pieces sold to patrons who purchased shares. In 2018, I wrote, collaged, and bound a poetry zine called popOMAHA, which explored the imagined intersection of the city of Omaha and modern pop culture. I have also shown my work in the windows of Forney Roth in downtown Omaha, at Amplify Arts (2018), Omaha Design Center (2017), Cali Commons (2016), and the Petshop (2016-2018) in Omaha, NE, and at the Harvester Artspace Lofts (2018) and the RNG Gallery (2016) in Council Bluffs, IA. I also worked as the associate editor/publicity coordinator for Spark Wheel Press (2017-2021).

My poetry has been published in Nebraska's Best Emerging Poets, Towers & Dungeons: Lilac City Fairy Tales Vol. 4, Weird Sisters: Lilac City  Fairy Tales Vol. 3, Love and Outrage, Stirring: A Literary Collection, Blueshift Journal, Heavy Edit, and Toothtaker. In March 2016, I released my first issue of Reality Bites, a submission-based pop culturally-driven publication, and Catalog, an interactive zine of poetry created out of an Anthropologie magazine. They are now in their 6th and 4th issues respectively.

Most recently, during a 3 year stint in Portland, OR (2019-2022), I spent more time bonding with my sewing machine, honing new techniques in my garage studio, making commissioned work, creating personal collections like making it more like it already is (aka the pantone project) and the abundance inventory, as well as writing (but mostly just for myself). I also worked full-time for Oblation Papers & Press a gorgeously creative and inspirational urban letterpress shop, paper-making studio, and retail space.

Now that I have returned to Omaha, you can find my work...

 

All artworks on this site were created by Torrey Smith (aside from submissions for realityBITES, which are noted as such).