Art Teacher Debuts Fashion Artistry in Saks Fifth Avenue Exhibit

From the chalkboard to the drawing board, St. Louis artist Ali Breitbach is hoping to leave her mark.

Breitbach, an art teacher at Reed Elementary School in Ladue, has been an educator with the Ladue School District for 15 years.

“There is no rule book to art. The hardest part about art is, what are you going to make?” said Breitbach, who currently teaches students in kindergarten through fourth grade. “It’s baby steps sometimes; it’s building confidence, support and trust. It is rare to have a student that does not care for art once you teach them. We are all supposed to do things differently, and making mistakes is part of the process, so get over that…and do not be hard on yourself. We embrace individuality and creativity.”

It seems Breitbach herself has abided by the “no-rule-book-to-art” notion as she embarks on her first-ever exhibition as a fashion designer and artist.

“Realities by Ali B.” is now on display at Saks Fifth Avenue in Plaza Frontenac, showcasing textiles designed by Breitbach and transformed into an entire clothing line.

“It’s an evolution of work encompassing 20 years from fine art to fashion,” she noted. “It truly unfolds visually to see how my work has transformed and progressed in all forms. My work fits beautifully in the space – it really shows how fashion evolves from art.”

The “space” Breitbach mentions is the former children’s department in the lower level of Saks, which has now been repurposed as a gallery.

“It’s pretty special to have the exhibit in the exact location I walked my first catwalk and spent countless hours modeling clothing as a child,” Breitbach said. “My grandmother worked a second job at Saks growing up nearly most of my life. Because of this, I was like her paper doll. She was always putting aside clothing for us to try on weekly. I walked in several fashion shows at Saks. I always say we didn’t go on vacation, we went to Saks. So, my inspiration started in the exact space of the exhibit. It’s very personal.”

While she was exposed to fashion at a fairly young age, Breitbach didn’t begin to explore creating her own pieces until her teens.

“It wasn’t until high school when I started taking sewing classes and was told to go to art school by my art teacher, who, to this very day, is a very dear friend and mentor, Pamela Senti,” Breitbach said. “I attended Maryville University focusing on studio art and the painting instructor at the time, local artist Nancy Newman Rice, pushed me in every way. It came quick and natural. I was creating handmade collages, superimposing them 200 times their size and hand-transferring them onto canvas, wood, ceramics, you name it. This serves as the base of my textile designs for my clothing line today.”

Breitbach says her growth as an artist coincides with her profession as an educator – something that has helped informed her artistry over the years.

“Being an art educator requires you to have your sleeves up at all times, using all mediums,” she explained. “Working in Ladue, I am thankful to have the support of an art-enriched community. We strive to give our students experience in all mediums and build their own creative self. My day-to-day job is teaching young minds how to craft their own self. The process is full circle because it allows me to grow and learn more of my own craft.”

Breitbach notes that while her young students have seen some of her artwork, they may not fully understand the process behind it.

“They love seeing my art, but I’m always curious what goes through those young minds,” she said.

An artist reception open to the public will be held at the lower level of Saks Fifth Avenue on Saturday, Oct. 9, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. There will also be a student- and family-focused session hosted by Breitbach for Reed Elementary families the following week on Saturday, Oct. 16, from 1 to 3 p.m., where children can learn more about the artwork she created.