
ABOUT DESIREE
Desiree Ruiz Velázquez is an independent interdisciplinary artist. She’s an oil painter, fashion designer, and published poet born and raised in Puerto Rico.
“I could never keep my hands still as a kid. Not even now as an adult. I always had to have a paper and pencils just to do something with my hands. And so, that's how I started losing myself for hours straight, drawing and writing."
She went to school to study fashion design, a time when she had evening wear collections walk down the runway at local fashion shows in Orlando, Florida.
After she graduated, she compiled all the poems she had written over the years for her poetry book "El Hechizo de la Amapola", which was published in 2018 by Caligrama Editorial.
She then immersed in the art industry, exhibiting her works at museums and galleries in Central Florida.

ABOUT HER WORK

Desiree is a self-taught artist who paints primarily in oils.
Her earlier body of work sought to shape what has always fascinated her; the hidden. Her curiosity towards divination and spiritual ascension practices fueled the majority of her oil paintings. Things such as Tarot, shadow work, higher consciousness, the afterlife, and crystal healing, were Desiree’s main source of inspiration.
She loves tying symbolism into her work, which are often derived from meanings found in Tarot, crystals, and cosmic beings.
“I’m terrified of death. I become less afraid when I envision that I will encounter those ethereal divine beings that I paint, full of color and full of cosmic dust. I imagine that they float and that they exist in the spiritual realm—which, I imagine, looks like our universe—. I like to think of them as warm and welcoming beings that are one with space, one with constellations, one with the nebula, and with everything out there. That’s how I cope with this fear.”
After having a few group exhibitions, she single-handedly hosted, organized, and curated her first solo art show, "UNCERTAINTY REALMS, The Art of the Unknown", where she exhibited over 42 original works of art.
Desiree is also the Founder & Fashion Designer of the emerging womenswear fashion brand, Desiree & Denise, which launched its first global collection with SHEIN in Summer 2022.



Life & Work with Desiree Ruiz, Interview, ORLANDO VOYAGER MAGAZINE
Daily Inspiration: Meet Desiree Ruiz, Interview, ORLANDO VOYAGER MAGAZINE
Published Works
Spanish poetry book written and illustrated by Desiree Ruiz. Published by Caligrama Editorial in 2018.


Curriculum Vitae
Curriculum Vitae
Curriculum Vitae
Curriculum Vitae
Gallery Shows Gallery Shows Gallery Shows Gallery Shows
Selected Interviews
2021 Studio Art Farm Gallery, Mount Dora Florida
August - December Exhibition
2021 - 2020 Studio Art Farm Gallery, Mount Dora, Florida
Monthly Pop-Up Shows and Live Painting
"Bella Donna", Group Exhibition
Orlando Museum of Art, Orlando, Florida
Group Exhibition
Sitting Swan Art Gallery, Orlando, Florida
Group Exhibition
Sitting Swan Art Gallery, Orlando, Florida
"FusionFest Diversitastic Festival" Group Exhibition
City Arts Gallery, Orlando, Florida
“The Art of FusionFest, Orlando’s Celebration of Diversity”, Group Exhibition
Orlando International Airport, Orlando, Florida
"1st Thursdays Exhibition, Feminine Vision", Group Exhibition
Orlando Museum of Art, Orlando, Florida
"3rd Thursdays Exhibition, H2Show", Group Exhibition
City Arts Gallery, Orlando, Florida
2021 Henao Contemporary Center, Orlando, Florida
"UNCERTAINTY REALMS, The Art of the Unknown", SOLO SHOW