LiveArts Studio

219-221-8211

About Us

Our Mission

To offer artmaking opportunities that contribute to the well-being of children, families, and communities through self-expression.

Our Vision

To leverage art as a means of fostering personal growth and creativity through education, and economic empowerment; to enhance mental well-being by encouraging participation in artistic endeavors; to create connections with individuals both locally and globally through the power of creative expression

Our Services

Our services include programming for youth through adults. We cater to  residents of a community, schools, municipal institutions, and private organizations. We offer visual art, art therapy, events, art education and more.

Our Philosophy

Our philosophy is defined by thirteen principles highlighting the fundamental values of our organizations' style and approach. They are: Purpose, Place, Planned Program, Personnel, Professionalism, Practice, Production, Profitability, Process, Passion, Preservation, Partnerships, and Pride.
Home  Services

Desire'e Simpson, EdD, ATR-P

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.