DERROLES TAYLOR
New Orleans, LA
2026-2027 Grant Studio Enhancement & Dat Sewing Guide Stage 3
Grant 2015, 2016-2017, 2019-2020, 2023-2024, 2024-2025
Derroles Taylor is a textile artist, fashion designer, and educator whose creative work explores the intersection of wearable form, cultural storytelling, and contemporary textile practice. “Rooted in the vibrant traditions of New Orleans, my pieces draw from the visual language of Mardi Gras Indians, krewe royalty, and the layered embellishment techniques embedded in the city’s cultural attire. I create sculptural garments and textile-based artworks that function as both adornment and narrative,” explains Taylor, who built a foundation in traditional fine art mediums before being introduced to textile arts and becoming captivated. “Today, my work is inherently multidisciplinary. I combine sewing, hand-embellishment, painting, quilting, graphic design, and other techniques to build complex surfaces and dimensional forms. Each piece becomes a convergence of mediums, reflecting my belief that textile art can hold the same conceptual and emotional weight as traditional fine art,” she reflects.
Taylor has built an educational program for other sewists; She created and published Dat Sewing Guide Learning Series in print, audio, and digital formats. She is currently developing her curriculum to include in-person and virtual sewing instruction. This grant will support a modification of Taylor’s at-home studio so that it may also function as a teaching environment. “This supports my long‑term goals of teaching, producing instructional content, and growing the Dat Sewing Guide Learning Series into a sustainable platform without the cost of renting space,” explains Taylor. Grant funds will go toward new equipment, a supplies storage system, daylight-balanced light bulbs, studio reorganization, and a dedicated work area.
Taylor will be serving as a mentor to fellow grantee and YAYA alumnus Paris Vincent, who will benefit directly from this studio renovation. “Having a fully functional teaching studio will allow me to provide her with structured guidance, space to learn, and access to the tools she needs to grow. My project and hers are aligned in purpose: expanding creative skill‑building opportunities and increasing access to technical training,” states Taylor. “This enhancement will allow me to teach effectively within my current footprint and strengthen the long‑term financial sustainability of my creative practice. It is an investment in my ability to serve my students, expand my educational offerings, and support the next generation of textile artists and costumers.”
Derroles Taylor studied Business Management at Xavier University and Design Management at Parsons School of Design. She first joined the YAYA Guild in 2000.
All works are copyright of the artist.