“Art in Fashion” Comes Alive at Lamar Arts

By: Ann Mann

At its best, art invites us to look again, to slow down and notice intention, beauty, and meaning where we might otherwise rush past. That is exactly what visitors will experience at Lamar Arts’ upcoming exhibition, Art in Fashion, where clothing steps fully into its role as creative expression.

The public is invited to a free opening reception on Thursday, March 6, at 6:00 m. at Lamar Arts, located at 101 Plaza Way in the Historic Barnesville Depot. The eveningpromises an immersive experience where art quite literally comes to life.

This exhibition highlights several artists working at the intersection of fashion and fine art. One featured designer bringing a particularly striking voice to the show is Monique Nicole Pitts Taylor, a Macon-based fashion designer whose work speaks softly, and powerfully, about confidence, femininity, and intention.

Monique Nicole Pitts Taylor describes her brand as an exploration of “the quiet strength of femininity.” Her designs favor refined tailoring, intentional silhouettes, and a thoughtful balance between structure and softness.

Rather than chasing trends, her work is grounded in timeless design, pieces meant to live well beyond a single season. Every seam, proportion, and detail is purposeful, creating garments that honor the body while allowing space for movement, presence, and self-expression.

Photograph courtesy of Monique Nicole Pitts Taylor

A graduate of Clark Atlanta University, Monique holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Business and Fashion Design & Merchandising. Her education also took her abroad to London and Paris, experiences that continue to inform her aesthetic. Still, her heart remains close to home. Through her work, she seeks to empower women to feel confident and authentically themselves, whether walking into a room, stepping onto a stage, or simply moving through daily life.

In a previous interview during Macon Fashion Week, Monique shared that designing is more than a profession, it is her voice and her therapy. Balancing life as a mother, wife, and entrepreneur, she has learned that creativity cannot be set aside without cost. Her clothing carries those lived stories: moments overcome, memories held, and confidence reclaimed. That depth of experience is evident in every piece she creates.

While the overall exhibition “Art in Fashion” was curated by Alvin Stephens, the work of Monique Nicole Pitts Taylor was brought into the exhibition by Pamela Marshall. Pamela is one of the founding members of Lamar Arts. Throughout her 35-year career, and now in retirement, Pamela’s passion has remained the same: giving back to the community, and helping young creative artists, navigate their paths.

That spirit of generosity and mentorship is woven throughout this exhibition. Fashion as Art is not simply about what we wear; it is about identity, craftsmanship, and the stories stitched into every garment.

The opening reception on March 6 is free and open to the public. Whether you come for the fashion, the art, or the conversation it sparks, you are invited to witness creativity in motion and experience fashion as a living, breathing art form, right here in Barnesville.

Photograph courtesy of Monique Nicole Pitts Taylor