Edward A Saunders

Co-owner and Creative Manager

Edward Saunders | Creative Partner - The path that led Edward Saunders to becoming the Creative Director of Avant-Garde Home Furnishings was definitely unique, but then again, he has never really allowed conventions or expectations to alter his unique perspective on life. From an early age, it was clear that Ed was a free spirit and innately creative, always demonstrating an interest and passion for all art forms, from the performing arts to the visual arts to the fine arts. ​

​In high school, his focus was on Journalism, for which he was nominated for a Miami Herald Silver Knight Award, as well as being twice recognized in Who’s Who of American High School Students. While in high school, Ed took several acting classes and developed an interest in theatre, and decided to pursue that as his major in college. He went on to receive a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Directing from Florida International University, graduating with honors. He then spent several years pursuing a career in theatre, finally deciding to move to South Beach and start his own non-profit theatre company, Horizons Repertory Theatre.  During the two years in which he served as Producing Artistic Director of the theatre, Ed took part in numerous productions as an actor, director and production designer, receiving glowing notices from critics and audiences alike.  In an article about local theatre companies, The New Times went so far as to call him, “the future of South Florida theatre.”  Unfortunately, despite a growing audience base, the financial demands became too great, and Horizons Repertory Theatre shut down after only two seasons.​

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Deciding to take a break from the performing arts, but still needing a creative outlet, Ed turned his sights to graphic design, again starting his own company, Tempest Graphics.  His work soon caught the attention of local promoters and club owners, and he spent several years designing flyers and print ads for many South Beach clubs, including Crobar, Maze, B.E.D. and Score.  Realizing how heavily his graphics work revolved around pictures, Ed decided to add photography to his growing list of art forms.  He quickly made a name for himself as a photographer, and soon thereafter was chosen by Emilio Estefan to be the official photographer for Estefan’s Nuevas Voces de America, a vocal talent search which aired on Telemundo.  Besides photographing the contestants and their performances, Ed’s work on the show afforded him the opportunity to photograph such luminaries in the Latin music industry as Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Ana Gabriel, Olga Tanon, Miguel Bose, Don Omar and Alejandra Guzman, as well as former Miss Universe Amelia Vega.