Photographer, and MKAD board member Michael A. Torres, founded the Kingston-based Soul Reflections Art & Photography Collective in 2022. The Collective supports and elevates new, emerging, and established artists and photographers of color and creates unique opportunities for them to exhibit their work.

Most recently, he restored hundreds of photographs taken by Benjamin Wigfall and Sharon Vandyke of the thriving Black Kingston Community of the 1970s and 1980s. In partnership with Riverview Baptist Church, Transart and Good Work Institute, and SUNY New Paltz the Collective exhibited these works during a successful four-installment event in various locations receiving high accolades and bringing the beloved community even closer together.

He has provided pro bono professional photography services for Ulster County-based organizations including, but not limited to Bardavon Presents, the City of Kingston Department of Arts & Cultural Affairs, Harambee Kingston NY/Pine Street African Burial Ground, Midtown Arts District, the Margaret Wade Lewis Center, the Land in Black Hands Committee of the Kingston Land Trust, Transart, and more.

His artwork has been exhibited at The West Strand Art Gallery, Old Dutch Church Gallery, Unison Arts, Good Work Institute, Transart, the City Hall Gallery, Deep Tanks Studios Gallery, and Lace Mill Gallery.

You can find his full obituary here: https://www.jvleahyfh.com/obituary/dr-michael-torres