Fashion Prose 1: Artist Talk

Exhibition Opening: FRI MAY 10 | 6-9PM
On View: FRI MAY 10 – SAT  JUN 15
Artist Talk: FRI JUN 7 | 6:30PM | Marquee Lounge

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Step into a world where fashion transcends mere fabric and thread, where every stitch tells a story, and every garment is a canvas of expression. The exhibition Fashion Prose 1 is a celebration of the artistry and language of style, exploring the intricate relationship between fashion, identity, and adornment.

Over a decade ago, a renowned fashion journalist observed the evolving landscape of fashion, noting its transformation from a niche passion to a global fascination and form of entertainment. Today, we invite you to witness this evolution firsthand as we showcase the work of artists who share a profound connection to the world of fashion and textiles.

Drawing inspiration from the past while embracing the innovations of the present, our diverse array of artists brings a fresh perspective to the realm of fashion and adornment. From the vibrant designs of Jasmin Ali Nessa’s NESSA fashion brand to the precise, dynamic compositions of Mikki’s graphic design background, each piece bursts with creativity and admiration for the art of dressing. Jay Sanborn, seamlessly blends traditional fiber craft techniques with contemporary materials to delve into themes of labor, queer aesthetics, and the complexity of the human form.

Join us on a journey through the rich tapestry of fashion and adornment, where every garment is a testament to the power of self-expression and the boundless creativity of the human spirit. Whether you’re a fashion enthusiast, an art aficionado, or simply curious about the language of style, “Fashion Prose 1” promises to captivate and inspire.

Artist Bios

Jasmin Nessa Ali is a Guyanese fashion designer from Queens, New York. She moved to Baltimore, Maryland in 2018, where she graduated with a BFA in Fiber and Experimental Fashion from Maryland Institute College of Art. Currently, she is working on designing and releasing unique, hybrid clothing collections out of her bedroom studio. The main pillars of her brand, NESSA, are utilitarianism and Indo-Caribbean aesthetics. The purpose of the brand is to elevate collaboration among artists, and speak power to Guyanese people for as long as NESSA thrives.

Baltimore native, Ajee Hassan, is a multi-disciplinary Beauty Artisan. Using the art of hair as her medium, her work is at the intersection of beauty and wellness. With extensive training in color application, cutting techniques, and skin-enhancing services, her aim is to empower individuals to step into their greatness—building their confidence and self-esteem through personalized styling education and self-care strategies. As an artist with a meticulous eye for cultivating beauty and overall wellness, she has founded Diverse Methodology—an artistry platform dedicated to amplifying her creative expression through the transformative power of beautification, with healing through art at its core.

Mikki Keller is a native of Baltimore City, a graphic designer, and artist. Mikki spent her earliest years watching her mother draw and always wanted to be an artist herself. She attended the Art Institute of Philadelphia, where she studied graphics and fine art. Specializing in drawing and painting figures and faces in charcoal, pastels, and acrylics on paper and canvas, her love of art, that she learned from her mother, has not diminished.

Anysa Saleh is a Yemeni-Muslim artist who explores the experiences of first and second generation Yemenis in the United States. She was born and raised in the Central Valley of California and later moved to the Bay Area, where she graduated from California College of the Arts. Saleh’s practice focuses on identity, religion, cultural codes, and tensions that arise from assimilation. She is best known for her short videos and photographs documenting her experience as a Yemeni Muslim woman in the United States. Saleh has exhibited her work both in the United States and abroad.

Jay Sanborn is a fiber artist, fashion designer, art handler, and occasional writer based in Baltimore, MD. Their recent works include Fiend, an experimental line of garments for transmasculine people. They received a BFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art and quickly began to learn the art and science of garment making and incorporating those techniques into their sculptural work. Outside of their studio, Jay can be found at the park with their dog, hanging out at one of Baltimore’s iconic dive bars, or watching horror movies.

SWANN is an East Baltimore, MD, native self-taught fashion sketch artist who is mostly influenced by art, literature, and fashion designers such as Gianni Versace, Karl Lagerfeld, Franco Moschino, Patrick Kelly, and Elsa Schiaparelli. In the same ways of Schiaparelli, Swann is working to establish a career as a “fashion artist:” a fashion designer and a visual artist who intertwines both ways of creating looks. Her artistic experience consists of volunteering, exhibiting, and learning at institutions such as Gallery CA, City Hall Art Gallery, Baltimore City Community College, School 33, Art with a Heart, Montgomery Park Gallery, Pride Center of Maryland, Amassi Center of Maryland, Artscape, Black Arts District, MaxGallery, and Baltimore School for the Arts.