PORTFOLIO
PORTFOLIO
Foster Monroe is a Chicago-born, New York- and Paris-based student of art history and fashion studies at Sarah Lawrence College. She previously worked at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, where she assisted with research and exhibition planning for a show on theater and fashion in 19th-century America. This experience strengthened her curatorial vision at the intersection of fashion and cultural history.
She recently studied in Paris, focusing on fashion, textile, and design history, and brings additional experience in editorial work, social media strategy, and fundraising within the fashion industry.
A dedicated museum-goer and sharp-eyed fashion spotter, Foster is a persuasive communicator and passionate advocate for recycled and sustainable fashion.
Foster Monroe
Art History & Fashion Studies
Monroe’s studies and research projects span a variety of topics from the history of textiles and design, trend forecasting, 18th-century fashion, 1920s fashion, 20th-century art, art of the ancient Mediterranean, French art and civilization, Dutch art, to the Renaissance.
See portfolio excerpts and related projects below.
Featured Essays
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Madame Georges Charpentier and Her Children: A Window into French Bourgeois Life
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Using Myths to Understand Greek-Turkish History
Work at the Smithsonian
I served as a Katzenberger Curatorial Intern at the National Portrait Gallery, where I assisted with research and exhibition planning for a show on theater and fashion in 19th-century America.
The National Portait Gallery
Exhibition Research with Primary Sources at the Library of Congress
Art Handling for Felix Gonzales-Torres: Always to Return + General Collection Management for Museum’s Permanent Collection
Extensive Exhibition Research and Writing on 19th Century American Actresses
Community Engagement
Research at the Archives of American Art
Magazine: What’s the Vibe
Founded by Foster Monroe and Emma Sarkissian this magazine is a space for fashion lovers to explore not just trends, but the deeper stories, emotions, and identities woven into what we wear. From personal narratives to cultural deep dives, our goal is to celebrate fashion as an art form and a conversation.
🔊AUDIO
Fashion Through the Ages: Marie Antoinette
“How did the trend cycle lead us to this moment of undeniably fun girliness and femininity, through references pulled from Marie Antoinette? And what does this as a larger concept have to do with society and the ways in which women are choosing to define and express themselves through femininity? How has it become a source of power, confidence, and inspiration for so many women?”
