ABOUT M.G. BALLARD

M.G. Ballard, who grew up in Akron, Ohio, moved to Indianapolis, IN in 1980 and opened a custom design salon.  In 1984, she was nominated for the More Fashion Awards in N.Y., sponsored by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company.  That same year, she made her debut as a wearable artist, specializing in painted textiles, at the 1984 Winter's Magic Artists Exhibition. 

Her first venture into leather came when one of her sisters asked her to design something wild for her to wear to the Grammy Awards.  Having collected a bunch of old leather and fur coats, Ballard cut them up and used them to create an exquisite, voluminous coat that featured mink monkeys and suede snakes.  Her sister got rave revues and M.G.'s love affair with leather began.    

M.G. who studied fine art at the University of Akron, graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.S. degree in Fashion Merchandising and went on to earn an M.S. in Education, both from Tuskegee University.  She became an instructor with the Fashion Merchandising Program where she made numerous contributions and eventually served as program coordinator.   She was awarded both an Outstanding Faculty Award for Teaching and an Outstanding Faculty Award for Service from the University in 1994 and 95 respectively. 

While working with Tuskegee University, Ballard continued designing and furthering her work with leather and suede in creating her "wearable art."  In 1998, she returned to her passion full time.   In addition to her work as a designer, she applies her talents to more pure forms of art in the creation of original, mixed-media wall hangings. 

Ballard’s apparel and home accessories are owned by many celebrities and professional, yet daring, women (and men) across the country.  Her work has been featured in several magazines and newspapers and has appeared in movies.

An advocate for women's economic well-being, she is the founder of  Women of Style, Spirit and Success Inc., a non-profit 501(3)c corporation dedicated to providing marketing assistance to women operating small businesses as a way to gain financial self-sufficiency.  The organization operates a technology program with Best Buy called Girls Getting Wired and a fashion-oriented technology and academic enrichment program for girls called The Future's Fashion Entrepreneurial Women (The F.F.E.W.).  She and her two children reside in Memphis, TN.