Dr. Terri A. Simmons

In college, an art instructor once told me I didn’t have what it takes to be an artist. I was crushed. I stopped believing in my talent and started sketching only in quiet moments, when no one was looking. But the truth is, I’ve been drawing since I was two years old. My mother saw it. My teachers saw it (even when they gave me detention for drawing in class), and deep down, I always knew there was something sacred in putting pencil to paper.

I earned an art scholarship to Columbia College in Chicago, but the sting of that professor’s words stuck. So instead of pursuing a life in the arts, I pivoted. I built a thriving 24-hour childcare center and a group home, earned my Bachelor's, Master's, and Ph.D. in Early Childhood Education, and served thousands of families over three decades. Still, art never left me. It just found new ways to show up—through children’s art programs, coloring walls, and creativity infused into every part of the work I did.

Years later, everything shifted when I visited the gallery of the late, legendary artist Annie Lee. That day was divine. Annie met me at the door, walked me through her space, and shared her own story of rejection in the art world. Then she looked me in the eye and said, “You have everything it takes to be a great artist.” That moment wasn’t just encouragement—it was a calling rekindled.

From that day forward, I picked up my pencil again with new fire.

Today, I’m not just creating art—I’m curating experiences.

Bloomline Art Studios is my reclaimed dream, my creative home, and my launchpad for other voices. Originally known as Terri Galleries, this space has been reborn with deeper purpose. Bloomline isn’t just a collection of my work—it’s a platform to uplift the unseen, the emerging, and the powerful. I use my eye, my story, and my heart to curate exhibitions that don’t just decorate walls—they speak to the human condition.

My art is emotional. It’s personal. And it’s public.

Through Bloom Free, Inc., my nonprofit, I merge art with healing—crafting events and campaigns that center women navigating illness, trauma, and transformation. My project Canvases of Courage is one example: a curated art exhibit rooted in storytelling, resilience, and restoration.

Everything I do is about reclamation.

Reclaiming art. Reclaiming voice. Reclaiming self.

This is more than a comeback—it’s a mission. I’m here to honor the beauty of bold expression and help other artists—especially those who've been overlooked—step into the light.