Framing By Design marks a new chapter with ribbon cutting

A frame can be the difference between a painting lingering on a wall and one that adorns a new owner’s wall. Framing By Design, a Black woman-owned custom framing studio in Buckhead, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday, celebrating new ownership after more than four decades serving Atlanta’s artists, collectors, and galleries.

The ribbon cutting marks the formal transition of a business that has operated in the neighborhood for more than 40 years. Co-founders Mirage Vanguard, known legally as Tiffani Hill, and Sierra Barbary, who goes by CRLZ, took over the shop from previous owners, who were preparing to retire.

“We found out that the previous owners were looking to retire,” Vanguard said. “So actually, my mentor connected me. We were able to talk, and once I told them my vision for the shop, they were on board.”

Vanguard, who has worked in framing for nearly a decade, said she had long wanted to own a shop but wasn’t sure it was possible until the opportunity arose. She and Barbary received the keys to the space in December 2025 and opened for business the same day, she said.

“It’s been a long eight months, man,” Vanguard said, describing the renovation and preparation period leading up to Saturday’s celebration. “We’ve been trying to make renovations over time just to freshen up the place and give it a new life and new spirit.”

Barbary, a ceramist of 12 years and founder of 333 Pottery Studio, said she is not a traditional framer but has worked alongside Vanguard in the local art community for years, including curating Vanguard’s solo exhibition. She said she has been learning the framing trade and designing ceramic frames since joining the business.

“I think what’s most important is we’re now Black-owned, we’re women-owned, we’re artist-owned, and we’re young, and we’re probably one of the youngest in this craft,” Barbary said. “We’re excited to be able to educate people more about it and to serve our community.”

Both women said they intend to preserve the shop’s reputation for craftsmanship while expanding its role in the local arts ecosystem, adding artist residencies, rotating exhibitions, educational programming, community partnerships, and artist visibility initiatives to its custom framing services.

Vanguard said maintaining quality is central to the transition. “We’re not going to do anything to make it less quality,” she said. “So I think the great part is a lot of the clients who have been coming here, they’ve learned to trust us, and they’re getting to know us.”

Elijah Green, an art dealer and installer who goes by Stretch, said he has watched Vanguard’s career evolve since they met three or four years ago while working on murals for Martin Luther King Day at a West End school. Vanguard has since framed several of his pieces, including his first solo exhibition last year.

“It’s really dope to see artists be on both sides of the art,” Green said. “When I say both sides of the art, it’s not just making the art, it’s presenting the art, and then operating the business of the things that support the presentation and the delivery of the art.”

Barbary and Vanguard both said the ownership transition carries significance beyond the business itself. Both women said they are the first in their families to become business owners.

“This is generational for me,” Vanguard said. “Like this is going to be my family legacy. Hopefully, yours as well. And something that we’re building for not only ourselves and our community, but also for future generations.”

Asked to summarize the new ownership in one sentence, both women landed on the same word.

“I wanted to say legacy,” Vanguard said. “I think that one pretty much ties it in, because we’re taking over an existing legacy, but then we’re creating our own at the same time.”

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