Artist: Nina Torr

Nina Torr, born 1987

She creates artworks in the blurred overlap between fine art and illustration. Her subjects seem to inhabit an equally indistinct realm: imagined interior landscapes populated by otherworldly figures that Tor describes as “sad animals putting on brave faces.” Parallel worlds seem to lose track of time and collide awkwardly, resulting in a disorienting yet captivating mixture of biblical, mythological, and historical imagery, inspired by old woodcuts and encyclopedias, illuminated manuscripts, and amateur natural-history illustrations. Unlike her somewhat troubling subject matter, Tor’s technique is anything but uncertain. Working primarily in ink and gouache, she displays impressively assured line work across hundreds of sketchbook pages.

Torr earned a bachelor’s degree from Parsons School of Design in New York in 2010 and a master’s degree from the University of Johannesburg in 2020. She has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions in New York, Berlin, and across South Africa. She teaches illustration at Open Window in Pretoria, and her illustrations have appeared in many publications.

Nina Torr, born in 1987, is an artist and illustrator based in Pretoria, South Africa. After receiving a BFA from Parsons School of Design in New York in 2010, she returned to South Africa to develop her practice. A frequent exhibitor and illustration lecturer at Open Window, Torr has held seven solo exhibitions, most recently Wayfinding at David Krut in Johannesburg. Her work explores psychological landscapes inhabited by figures pursuing journeys. Open-ended narratives invite viewers to engage on a personal level. Her illustrations have appeared in local publications including Essie Letterpress's Artist's Almanac, Bat Butt Zine and iJusi. She has produced prints with Black River Studio for the 50ty/50ty Prints series, lithographs with The Artist's Press, and monotypes with David Krut Projects. She regularly exhibits at 99 Loop in Cape Town and NO END Contemporary in Johannesburg, and recently completed a master's degree at the University of Johannesburg.

Artwork information:

Hand-pulled silkscreen print on BFK Rives 250 gsm paper.

Paper size: 560 x 760 mm

Limited to 30 pieces.

Numbered and signed by the artist

Hand-printed by Black River Studio, South Africa (2021)

Actual artwork photograph:

Hand-pulled screen print on BFK Rives 250 gsm paper.

Hand-printed at Black River Studio, South Africa, in 2021.

She creates artworks in the blurred overlap between fine art and illustration. Her subjects seem to inhabit an equally indistinct realm: imagined interior landscapes populated by otherworldly figures that Tor describes as “sad animals putting on brave faces.” Parallel worlds seem to lose track of time and collide awkwardly, resulting in a disorienting yet captivating mixture of biblical, mythological, and historical imagery, inspired by old woodcuts and encyclopedias, illuminated manuscripts, and amateur natural-history illustrations. Unlike her somewhat troubling subject matter, Tor’s technique is anything but uncertain. Working primarily in ink and gouache, she displays impressively assured line work across hundreds of sketchbook pages.

Torr earned a bachelor’s degree from Parsons School of Design in New York in 2010 and a master’s degree from the University of Johannesburg in 2020. She has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions in New York, Berlin, and across South Africa. She teaches illustration at Open Window in Pretoria, and her illustrations have appeared in many publications.

Nina Torr, born in 1987, is an artist and illustrator based in Pretoria, South Africa. After receiving a BFA from Parsons School of Design in New York in 2010, she returned to South Africa to develop her practice. A frequent exhibitor and illustration lecturer at Open Window, Torr has held seven solo exhibitions, most recently Wayfinding at David Krut in Johannesburg. Her work explores psychological landscapes inhabited by figures pursuing journeys. Open-ended narratives invite viewers to engage on a personal level. Her illustrations have appeared in local publications including Essie Letterpress's Artist's Almanac, Bat Butt Zine and iJusi. She has produced prints with Black River Studio for the 50ty/50ty Prints series, lithographs with The Artist's Press, and monotypes with David Krut Projects. She regularly exhibits at 99 Loop in Cape Town and NO END Contemporary in Johannesburg, and recently completed a master's degree at the University of Johannesburg.