This past Saturday marked a successful start to Expression of Art Through Pottery, a collaboration between the Darren Clark Jr. Memorial Foundation, the YMCA of East Orange, and Express Yourself Studios.

Youth from across New Jersey gathered to explore clay as a tool for creativity, focus, and wellness. Each participant began their very first piece and, over the next six weeks, will complete a total of six unique projects. The program will culminate in a community art show where family and friends can celebrate the participants’ work.
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Programs like this underscore the power of collaboration in bringing art and wellness opportunities to youth. We’re honored to play a role in making these experiences possible.

Upcoming Fall/Winter Workshops

​Express Yourself Studios continues to bring art programming into communities across New Jersey. Join us at one of our upcoming sessions:

• September 13 – October 25 – Youth Pottery Series, East Orange YMCA
• October 8 – Youth Pottery Workshop, Livingston Public Library
• October 16 – Bold Fall Florals Painting Workshop, SOMA Adult School
• October 23 – Pottery Workshop, Chatham Adult School
• November 12 & 19 – Expressive Collage Workshop, SOMA Adult School
• December 3 – Pottery Workshop, Florham Park Library

Mobile Art Parties – Now Booking 

We’re currently booking mobile art parties for late October through December. Perfect for birthdays, celebrations, or team gatherings, our parties are fully customized with themes and creative projects designed to engage your group.

Partner With Us

If you’re an organization—school, library, senior center, or business—interested in bringing creative, wellness-focused programs to your community, we’d love to connect. Together, we can create experiences that inspire joy, learning, and connection through art.

📩 Contact us today to start the conversation.

Express Yourself Studios proudly announces that Simone Anthony‑Brown, Founder of Express Yourself Studios, and her son, Aaron Brown, a rising senior at the School of Visual Arts, have been independently selected to present their work at the 2025 Newark Arts Festival (NAF 2025). They join more than 115 visual artists exhibiting across Newark this fall.

• Simone Anthony‑Brown will exhibit her mixed media collage series “Not a Threat – Rooted in Place” in the group exhibition at Newark ArtSpace. The work reassembles Newark street photography into layered urban environments inhabited by vibrant silhouettes that reclaim space and visibility.
• Aaron Brown will present his comic-inspired poster series “Ink & Impact” during “Glimpse of Joy,” a public Art Block installation curated by Abigail Alabre and presented by the Newark Downtown District in partnership with Newark Arts. The installation will take place on Thursday, October 9 from 4–7 PM along Halsey Street.

While Simone and Aaron are mother and son, each brings a unique and independent artistic voice to this year’s festival, rooted in personal experiences, bold storytelling, and cultural reflection.

About Newark Arts Festival 2025
Now in its 24th year, NAF 2025 runs from October 8–12, turning Newark into a vibrant citywide celebration of art, music, and culture. With exhibitions, live performances, installations, talks, and more, the festival invites audiences of all backgrounds to explore how JOY functions as a radical, creative force.
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The festival is produced by Newark Arts, founded in 1981 to strengthen and support the arts in Newark. Under the leadership of Daryl Stewart, Festival Producer and Director of Programs, and Adrienne Wheeler, Lead Curator, Artistic Initiatives, Newark Arts Festival continues to evolve as New Jersey’s premier destination for artistic expression and community impact.
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For the full schedule and festival map, visit: newarkartsfestival.com