About | LiveArts Studio

Our Aims

We firmly believe in art's ability to promote a happy lifestyle. Our belief in art is centered on a dynamic experience which inspires three core principles: Creativity, Wellness, and Kindness.

Creativity

Using one’s form of expression to share ideas and emotions with others. Creativity builds pathways to healthy connections.

Wellness

Well-being, both physically and mentally is at the forefront of what we do. We believe that creative environments help shape our world and cultivate a healthy lifestyle.

Kindness

Learning to treat others with respect and care plays a fundamental part in our approach to delivering impactful, creative experiences.

Who We Are:

Desire'e Simpson, EdD, ATR

Executive Director and Founder of LiveArts Studio

Desire’e Simpson is a gifted artist, designer, and educator who established LiveArts Studio, a non-profit art program dedicated to the community in Gary, IN. With a rich background in creating playful abstract pieces using diverse media like mosaics, wood, textiles, and sculptures, she began her professional artistic journey while pursuing her BFA in Interior Architecture and Design at Parsons in Paris, where she also freelanced as a designer before returning to the U.S. After earning her degree, she served in the Peace Corps, helping artisans in the Dominican Republic improve their craft and market their creations, which motivated her to launch a similar initiative in the U.S. aimed at empowering under resourced communities to explore their creative passions, resulting in the founding of LiveArts Studio. Grounded in her belief in the power of art, she engages learners of all ages, boasting over 30 years of teaching experience across K-16 levels. She is a licensed art educator, an adjunct professor, art therapist, and a retired Sergeant Major from the U.S. Army Reserves. With decades of experience, and a lifetime of working with members of diverse communities, Desire’e approaches her art and design work with the same unwavering passion.