PITTSBURGH—Maria DeSimone Prasik has never been one to accept limits. An artist since childhood, she grew up surrounded by creativity—her grandfather salvaging discarded furniture and turning it into dollhouses, her father instilling in her an unwavering belief that “can’t” was simply not an option.
That belief was tested at 18 when a high school guidance counselor dismissed her dream of becoming an artist. “You’ll never make it,” he told her, suggesting instead that her long fingers would serve her well as a secretary.
“I just thought, ‘Yeah, whatever, buddy,'” Prasik recalls with a laugh. She left his office determined to prove him wrong.
By 19, she had launched her own art business. Seven years later, she returned to that same high school—not as a student, but as a teacher. Today, she is a thriving Pittsburgh artist whose work spans acrylics, watercolors, airbrush, murals, and mixed media. She has taught classes for the National Aviary, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Red Cross, among others. She has sold over 250 unique mixed-media sculptures made from repurposed materials, a tribute to the resourcefulness she learned from her family.
Prasik’s artistic journey is deeply intertwined with her love for Pittsburgh. “I love this city—its diversity, its energy, the sense of community,” she says. Her work frequently incorporates elements of the city’s industrial past, repurposing vintage objects into new, meaningful creations. “I don’t like to sit still,” she admits, describing how she’s constantly experimenting with new materials, techniques, and artistic forms.
Her passion extends beyond her own creations. She is a dedicated educator, using art to empower others. From leading paint workshops for teachers to organizing community murals where participants of all ages contribute, she sees art as a tool for healing and connection. “Everyone is an artist,” she insists. “Not everyone has the passion for it, but everyone can do it.”
During the pandemic, supply shortages led Prasik to embrace found objects, creating sculptures from broken jewelry, bicycle inner tubes, and even dried paint drips from her husband’s worktable. “I just started gathering things—anything I could find,” she says. What began as a personal experiment resonated widely, with hundreds of people purchasing her sculptures.
For Prasik, success isn’t measured in wealth but in the ability to do what she loves every day. “I’m not a billionaire, but I feel rich in what I get to do,” she says.
Looking ahead, she remains committed to her community, constantly seeking new ways to inspire others through art. Whether teaching seniors at Little Sisters of the Poor or mentoring young artists in her studio, she continues to push forward, proving that passion, persistence, and a refusal to accept “can’t” can turn a childhood dream into a lifelong calling.