Listen to this article here. Audio Provided by Radio Talking Book Service.
A carved rock face here, a winding vine there—Michael Torres’ creations are so lifelike, they might fool Mother Nature herself. As the founder of de la Torre Art Design, the Omaha-born scenic artist specializes in crafting naturalistic environments that invite visitors to pause, marvel, and wonder if it’s all real.
Specializing in prop fabrication and architectural restoration, the team at de la Torre Art Design creates lifelike, functional exhibits prioritizing both animal welfare and visitor experience. A core group of five—two laborers, an artist, a graphic expert, and Torres—split much of their time between Omaha and Tennessee, tackling high-profile zoo and museum projects across the country.
Torres remains directly involved, from the structural planning to the final layers of paint, ensuring that each creation meets his high standards. “I don’t want the company to be so big that my hands are not involved,” he shared. “That’s how I guarantee quality.”
Torres began his career in the film industry, honing his skills as an on-site decorator and props specialist for commercials and movies. A film job in Tampa brought him to Orlando, home of major attractions like Universal Studios and Disney World. The transition from film to designing environments wasn’t just a natural one for Torres—it was practical.
At a time when film work was less abundant, Torres found himself immersed in themed entertainment. The abundance of work paired with the chance to collaborate with highly skilled artists gave him a chance to refine his craft. In 2015, Torres founded de la Torre Art Design in Omaha.
“Mike’s background and approach comes from industries that favor speed and adaptability,” said Benjamin Pape, an artisan at de la Torre Art Design who oversees graphics and technology. “[His] energy and drive set the tone for everything we do. He’s taught me that sometimes ‘good enough' is precisely what you need to move forward, while other times, perfection truly matters.”
Within the same year of his company’s official launch, Torres established one of its most notable long-term partnerships with the Nashville Zoo. One project blossomed into what is now a nearly decade-long collaboration.
“Two of our larger exhibits there have won awards from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), and our latest Komodo dragon exhibit—the largest in North America—is being submitted for another AZA award in 2025,” Torres said.
The Nashville Zoo’s Expedition Peru: Trek of the Andean Bear received Top Honors in Exhibit Design from the AZA in 2019, followed by the Sumatran Tiger Exhibit: Tiger Crossroads earning the same distinction in 2020. Torres’ work in Expedition Peru also garnered unique recognition when the tamarin exhibit, cleverly located in the women’s restroom, was named “Best Restroom in the Country” in 2019 by Cintas Corp.
“We don’t just focus on what looks good—it has to function well for the animals and the people who care for them,” Torres noted. “We put in extra work on the back end to ensure the animals’ welfare.”
As the industry evolves, so does de la Torre Art Design. Torres has embraced 3D printing as a way to meet the growing demand for custom-designed pieces. “The printers are like another team member,” he explained. “I don’t have the time to sculpt things the way I used to. These let us create things faster and more efficiently than ever before.”
This technological pivot also addresses the challenge of a declining number of skilled sculptors—a dwindling resource in the industry. “Our projects are incredibly diverse; some are large-scale, others are intricate, and occasionally we get truly unique requests,” Pape said. "It’s particularly gratifying to see a project through from concept to completion and know I played a role in its success.”
As Torres looks to the future, he’s focused on expanding his presence in East Tennessee, where his work in Knoxville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg has gained traction. Locally, he’s eager to establish ties with more Omaha institutions, particularly the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium.
While his own company’s reach continues to expand, Omaha remains the heart of his operations. “All my family’s here, and so are my team members,” Torres said. “Here, we can truly focus on 3D-printed sign work and museum artifacts—I can’t move that part of the business to Tennessee, because the expertise is here.”
“One day I’m flying a drone over a zoo exhibit, the next I’m 3D printing a life-sized Triceratops skull, then shifting gears to develop a marketing campaign or designing vehicle graphics,” Pape added. “I’m really looking forward to seeing how we push our capabilities and elevate our work even further.”
For Torres, the work is as much about passion as it is about precision. Whether he’s crafting a lifelike tree for a zoo exhibit or restoring a piece of architectural history, that commitment to quality shines through—piece by intricate piece.
“We’re not just building environments; we’re creating experiences that tell stories,” he said. “When someone walks into a space we’ve created and feels transported to another world, that’s the ultimate reward.”
For more information, visit delatorreartdesign.com.
This article originally appeared in the March/April 2025 issue of Omaha Magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.
