It’s 2004. Rome. The streets are bustling with the sounds of commerce, bikes, and high-heeled shoes clicking against cobblestone. Cars glide down narrow roadways as pigeons flutter across ancient statues. Nearby lies Temple Rome and the promise of inspiration.
It was here that Lia Strasser, artist, educator, and art director, found a passion that would sustain her for years to come. But it almost didn’t happen.
“When I finished high school, I applied to Skidmore College because I wanted to be a certain number of hours away from my family in New York City and Westchester,” Strasser said. “I was afraid of going to art school. I didn't have the confidence that I’d make it as a visual artist. Temple Rome and Tyler changed that.”
Strasser chose Temple’s program for its dynamic classroom setting and alignment with her interest in Rome’s rich visual arts history. She began her studies after completing an internship at The New Yorker, where she assisted covers editor Françoise Mouly. At the time, she was only a junior in college.
“Attending Tyler changed my life. It was my first real experience of an artist community—and it was an incredibly strong one, across painters, photographers, and architects,” she said.
“I was constantly moving through working artists’ studios and galleries across the city, which made everything feel immediate and alive. A lot of that came through Shara Wasserman, who connected us to working artists and the broader art scene—taking us to openings and introducing us to a life outside of the program. That sense of immersion stayed with me."
In 2006, after completing her degree in graphic design at Skidmore, Strasser returned to Rome with a newfound confidence to build her career as a painter and visual artist.
“I honestly didn't have much of a plan—I just wanted to paint,” she said. “I reconnected with the friends I made at Temple Rome, and we would visit gallery openings together. I did some apprenticeships in the city and continued to develop my skills. I painted a lot.”
Lia Strasser standing in front of a 15-foot painting, inspired by the ceiling at the Caracci Galleria, that she made while studying in Rome called “Ariadne’s Dream.”
Photo by Juliette Hermant
After living and working in Rome for several months, Strasser moved back to New York to start her career in graphic design.
“I was maybe 23 years old, and I decided that I wanted a more stable job. It was right before the 2008 recession,” she said. “In Rome, I switched between babysitting, teaching, bartending, and a host of other gigs. I was an artist, but it was hard. So, I moved and started working for a financial company. When I wasn’t working, I was painting in my bedroom.”
Over the next decade, Strasser flowed between industries as a graphic designer, moving from finance to law and then to hospitality. Her creative thinking, visual storytelling, and problem-solving skills allowed her to eventually find her stride as an art director.
In 2019, Strasser began working at BET as a senior art director, collaborating across teams, and leading the visual design for popular shows like Love & Hip Hop: Miami, Bigger, and Tyler Perry’s Sistas. During her time there, she continued to develop as an artist, publishing a visual essay for The New Yorker’s Culture Desk and multiple cartoons in the magazine. When she needed a reset, she returned to Rome.
Lia Strasser's cartoon published in The New Yorker, November 7, 2025.
“There would be times when I just needed a break, and I would return to Italy,” she said. “I've lost count of how many times I've gone back, but it always brought me back to my work with renewed creativity."
After five years at BET, Strasser was laid off. She used it as an opportunity to go after her dream of being a full-time painter.
“The layoffs gave me a new perspective. I learned how to live with less,” she said. “It brought me back to the mindset I first encountered at Tyler, and I decided to take my work more seriously. I thought about the people I had met there—many of whom had gone on to become full-time painters, teachers, or gallerists—and realized I could do that too. So, I did.”
Now based in Sullivan County, NY, just across the Delaware River from Pennsylvania, Strasser spends her days painting in her studio and working on editorial illustration and visual essay projects. She also teaches workshops, often meeting one-on-one with people looking to reconnect with their creative practice.
She recently drew live cartoon portraits of the guests attending the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance 50th anniversary gala. She frequently updates her Instagram page with new work and works in progress. Her advice for Tyler students? There's always time to start your dream.
“The world is going to tell you 'No' a million times over, but you control what you say to yourself,” she said. “There’s never going to be a perfect moment to create a work of art or chase your dreams—you just have to take that first step.”
Dreaming of your own path in Italy? Temple Rome now offers four-year degree programs for incoming students. Learn more about the courses, campus, and opportunities in this article or reach out to [click-for-email].