Theresa DeSalvio, born in New York City, is a painter who uses simplified space and bold color to create psychologically charged narrative paintings.  Her paintings explore psychological and social issues that have included: addiction (heroin), survival (cancer), relationships and alienation, and social change (in China). Her most comprehensive body of work,Tales began as a series of paintings, then grew into the basis for her bilingual (English/Spanish) book and film (both of the same title) Tales: A Cautionary Story about Heroin Addiction.  The film has been screened in numerous international film festivals.

Theresa DeSalvio holds a MFA from the City University of New York Hunter College and a BFA from the School of Visual Arts, both in New York City.

DeSalvio lives and works in NJ.