We were lucky to catch up with Madison Pitts recently and have shared our conversation below.

Madison, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

My interest in interior design really began in 2020, during the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic. I had just graduated from MTSU with my BFA in visual art and photography, and my goals of moving to Nashville to be apart of its fine art scene and applying to grad school were put on hold when quarantine began. I went from being apart of lively university art program to moving in with my mom in her 1-bedroom apartment with limited space for creative projects. This pause gave me a lot of time to reflect on my future goals, and also forced me to explore other creative avenues. I threw myself into writing, coding, playing a lot of the Sims, and daydreaming of what my future home would look like once quarantine was over. So much of designing interiors is about the psychology of the space- how it makes you feel, how it reflects your innermost self, and the sense of control you have over curating your own space. I also started taking on painting commissions – mostly pet portraits- and while it wasn’t the highly conceptual work I had been interested in during my time in university, I realized how much I enjoyed working 1-on-1 with clients.
At the start of 2021, I took a chance and applied for my first job in design as a remote interior designer at Modsy. I learned so much about the technicalities of design while working for Modsy, all while pulling from my university studies on color theory and composition.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am an interior designer and visual artist based in the Nashville area. I am passionate about many disciplines – painting, design, photography, modeling- and creative collaboration. I currently work as a full-time interior design specialist for Williams-Sonoma’s home brands, including Pottery Barn and West Elm, where I work directly with residential clients on their design projects by creating mood boards, layouts, and product lists to bring their design goals to life.

I also have my own design brand through social media – Aurelian Design- where I post my own home projects and personal design ideas, as well as my visual arts practice- Madison Pitts Art. I do seasonal arts and craft fairs around the Nashville area where I sell original paintings and prints, and teach local workshops on painting, printmaking, and photography. For more collaborative projects, I work with Premiere Models Nashville and local photographers as a fashion and editorial model.

I find that my cross-disciplinary creative work lends itself to each other constantly; I am inspired by so many creative avenues. When I am modeling, I understand the technical aspects of the shoot because I have been on the other side of the camera; when I am designing a table setting, I can appreciate the tactile qualities of a stoneware plate from my time throwing clay. All of my experiences in practicing art give me a unique insight and respect for the craft, no matter which project I am working on at the time.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

I draw a lot of inspiration from existential writers like Albert Camus, particularly his essay the Myth of Sisyphus. For me, existentialism as a philosophy is grounded ultimately in personal responsibility for one’s self despite life’s absurdities, and that thinking influences every decision I make both personally and professionally.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I faced a lot of doubt from family and friends early on when I first decided to pursue art as a career- I did not come from a community that valued art as a profession. I no longer receive that same doubt now that I am viewed as “successful,” meaning that I create full time as my career and able to support myself financially. But I think it is imperative that non-creatives realize that scope of success is so narrow. A path in a creative field is rarely linear; the most useful tool a artist can have is the ability to problem solve and adapt. Success looks so differently from person to person, and our ideas of what a life is supposed to look like is still so new when comparing our current capitalist society to the full range of human existence. This is something we see challenged in one way or another in each generation, maybe more-so now with the internet and social media to share a myriad of experience and what success can look like.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @madisonpittsart
• Other: Pinterest: Aurelian Design @madisonpittsart

Image Credits
Costumes Couture – Amy and Brad Schelton