Mirroring Nature: Meet Digital Painter Topher Straus ’93

Topher Straus '93 is a digital painter whose work has been featured in top galleries across the country. He’s also producing and starring in an Anthony Bourdain-style travel show and developing multiple books. Amid all of that, he recently spoke with us about his creative passions and how he seeks to deepen the integration of art and philanthropy.

What are you doing now? How would you describe your path that led you to this current moment in life?

I’ve always been fascinated by the way we see ourselves in the world around us—how reflection and landscape mirror our own inner terrain. That fascination has become the foundation of my art.

I'm a digital painter deeply immersed in capturing landscapes, particularly the natural beauty of Colorado and U.S. national parks. My work incorporates reflective materials that invite viewers to see themselves within these environments, creating an intimate connection between the observer and the landscape. This approach isn't just aesthetic—it's intentional. I want people to feel like they're part of these places, to recognize their role in protecting and preserving them. There's something powerful about literally seeing yourself reflected in nature; it transforms the viewing experience from passive observation into personal responsibility.

I'm fortunate to be represented by top galleries across the state and nation, with work in museum and corporate collections. I've built a community of nearly 180,000 followers on Instagram, where I share the creative process, landscapes that inspire me, and stories behind each work. For those interested in exploring my portfolio or discussing available pieces and commissions, I invite you to visit www.topherstraus.com or reach out directly. I love connecting with the Kent Denver community.

The path that brought me here has been anything but linear. I started my creative career in film production, working alongside legends like lifetime Academy Award recipient Robert Altman, before moving into the video game industry, where I produced multiple The Sims 3 expansion packs with EA Games. Each experience taught me something essential about storytelling, world-building, and connecting with audiences. But eventually, I realized that sharing my own artistic vision was the truest thing I could do. So I made the leap seven years ago into creating and exhibiting my own work, and I haven't looked back since. The wild success I'm experiencing now—that sense of everything flowing and aligning—confirms what I've come to believe: I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be, doing exactly what I'm meant to be doing, at exactly the right time.

What brings you energy right now? What are you most passionate about?

Right now, what truly energizes me is the fascinating dance between art and the natural world. There's an electricity that comes from standing in front of a landscape—whether it's a sweeping vista in Rocky Mountain National Park or an intimate canyon scene—and knowing that I'm about to translate that experience into something others can connect with. My greatest passion lies in using digital painting to help people see themselves as active participants in these environments rather than distant observers. The creative process itself fuels me: the technical challenges of capturing light, the emotional weight of preserving a moment, and the knowledge that each piece might spark something meaningful in someone who encounters it.

What is something you hope to achieve or accomplish?

At this stage in my journey, my greatest aspiration is to use the thing I love most—creating art—to give back to the community that has given so much to me. Kent Denver instilled in me an early understanding that success means little without service, and that lesson has become the compass guiding my career. It fundamentally shaped how I view my role as an artist, teaching me to see art not merely as personal expression, but as a powerful tool for connection and tangible positive change. Every piece I create now carries that dual purpose: to move people aesthetically while also serving as a vehicle for supporting causes that matter to our collective wellbeing.

How did your Kent Denver education prepare you for where you are now?

My Kent Denver education provided me with a wealth of foundational tools that I didn't fully appreciate until much later in life. Now in my 50s, I look back and finally understand just how beneficial that experience was in shaping who I've become. The rigorous and engaging academic environment cultivated in me an insatiable appetite for learning that has never dimmed—if anything, it's only intensified with time. That discipline, that joy in the process of learning itself, came directly from my Kent Denver years. The school didn't just teach me subjects; it taught me how to be a perpetual student of life.

Being on multiple sports teams at Kent taught me invaluable lessons about leadership that I carry into every collaborative project today. Whether I'm working with collaborators on my travel show, partnering with illustrators on my children's book, or coordinating with conservation organizations, I approach each team dynamic with this philosophy. The best leaders don't make people feel small or managed; they make people feel seen, valued, and empowered to contribute their unique strengths.

Perhaps most significantly, Kent Denver embedded philanthropy into my DNA and shaped my understanding of my place in society. The school instilled in me a profound sense of gratitude and responsibility—the understanding that privilege comes with an obligation to give back to your community. That value system, formed during those formative years, is now inseparable from my identity as an artist and a person. It's why I partner with organizations like the Food Bank of the Rockies and Conservation Colorado, and why I measure success not just by creative output but by positive impact. I learned so much at Kent Denver, and I genuinely attribute much of the success and fulfillment I experience today to the foundation that the school provided—academically, athletically, and most importantly, ethically.

How does being an alum of Kent Denver School impact your sense of self now?

I take great pride in being a member of the Kent Denver community, and that identity has become even more meaningful as Colorado has transformed over the decades since my graduation in the 1990s. As a fourth-generation Colorado native, I've witnessed tremendous change—the state has grown up, bringing with it far more cultural diversity, opportunities, and vibrancy than existed during my school years. While I'm a native, I don't need a bumper sticker to prove it; I genuinely believe everyone who chooses Colorado is welcome here. That said, when I do meet people who grew up in the state, the first question is usually, "What school did you go to?" With great pride, I always let them know I'm a Kent Denver alum, and I go on to share some of the profound benefits of the education I received there. Whether I'm meeting younger or older alumni at events, I feel an immediate kinship—I recognize in them the same traits, values, and foundational strengths that my Kent Denver experience instilled in me. It's like we speak the same language, share the same compass.

Kent Denver gave me a foundation built on three pillars: education, athletics, and philanthropy—all of which remain central to my daily life and professional work. Fitness is a huge part of who I am, as are learning and giving back to my community. I credit the remarkable teachers I had at Kent, some of whom I still keep in contact with, for showing me what engaged, passionate instruction looks like and for believing in my potential even when I couldn't fully see it myself. One memory that still profoundly influences me involves Donna Serrano, founder of the KDS credit union. She sat down with me during my time at Kent Denver and encouraged me to save a portion of my earnings and invest in something I believed in. I started putting all my money toward one stock—Apple—and I still hold it today. Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with Apple's CEO, Tim Cook, and I shared this story with him, along with discussing some of my paintings. It's one of those full-circle moments that wouldn't have happened without Donna's early guidance and Kent's culture of mentorship.

Can you share a Kent Denver memory that brings you joy?

Oh wow, there are so many memories that bring me joy from Kent Denver, but one stands out above all the rest—not just because it was a great moment, but because it taught me something profound about friendship, generosity, and what it means to truly see someone else's needs. One of my best friends, Justin DeSorrento '95, who was on the soccer team with me, did something so selfless during a homecoming game that I still get chills thinking about it today. My father and I weren't close—he lived out of state and wasn't really part of my life. On the rare occasions he did show up, he was intensely critical, focused solely on wanting me to be great at soccer. The problem was, I was just okay at the sport. Justin, on the other hand, was excellent—truly gifted on the field.

My dad came to visit for this particular homecoming soccer game, and before it started, he told me I had to score. There was so much pressure wrapped up in that demand—it wasn't about the game or the team; it was about proving something to him, about finally being good enough in his eyes. I shared this burden with Justin before we took the field, and what he did next is something I'll carry with me forever. DeSo and I both played forward, and like so many times before, he was easily dribbling the ball around defenders, weaving through the opposition with that natural skill he possessed. He had a wide-open goal in front of him—an easy shot, a guaranteed score for himself. Instead, he literally passed the ball directly into my feet, and it bounced off for a goal. It was amazing. It was selfless. It was everything.

Justin has since passed away, but this lesson lives on forever with me. In that moment, he showed me what real friendship looks like—not just being there for the good times, but recognizing when someone you care about needs something and giving it to them without hesitation, even at your own expense. He could have had that goal, that glory, that recognition. But he saw what I needed more: not just a goal, but to feel seen, supported, and valued. That act of kindness resonates even more powerfully now because I understand how rare and precious it is to have someone in your corner like that. Kent Denver brought Justin into my life, and through him, I learned that true greatness isn't measured in individual achievement—it's measured in how you lift the people around you.