Troi Smith is a graduate of Marist College with a degree in Fashion Design, but her passion has been with her since she could remember. Born and raised in Queens, New York, Troi has always known she wanted to pursue a career in the arts, she just didn’t know where to start. With the support of her mother, she was exposed to a world of art beyond her own. With the Joan Mitchell Foundation, she was given the opportunity to meet other artists, and develop a sense of community with her peers. At the Frieze Teens, not only did she connect with other artists who were in the field, but she also attended The Frieze Art Museum. By the time she made it to high school, she already had a very extensive portfolio that exhibited the versatility of her talents. She attended The High School of Art and Design as a sophomore, and graduated in June of 2019. While there, she was exposed to the world of fashion; from meeting Norma Kamali in her studio space, to working alongside Kelly Cutrone on the Fashion Leading Team for the school’s student-led Fashion Show. During her years at Marist College, she spent the entirety of career ingesting new skills and applying them to her creative direction. She was able to hone in all her skills, which didn’t get unnoticed. By the time her senior year had came. She had landed an internship with LaQuan Smith, and had attended two NYFW shows as well. Post graduation, she is currently working on creating a community of other artists that are just like her, giving people the opportunity to make art together and celebrate it together. ​