Did you ever expect embroidery to encourage you to “Rise up!” or “Give Hell”? Valeria Molinari’s typographical hoop art fuses the power of language with bright and textural abstract designs. Colorful non-representational shapes—created with thread as well as beading—are carved away by empowering script. “Most of my work is inspired by my activism and the love for wordplay,” she writes, “or just simple phrases that make my day.”

Molinari is systematic in her creative process. “I begin every piece as I would any other lettering or illustration assignment; with sketches and experiments, until I find the version I’m satisfied with,” she explains. “Then I pick a palette to work with, and start embroidering. Since there’s a complicated nature to each piece I try to work on a couple at a time, to rest and troubleshoot.”

Images © Valeria Molinari