20 Artists Who Took Embroidery To The Next Level

The origins of embroidery can be traced back to the Warring States period in China (500-300BC) and Sweden’s Migration period (300-700AD), and some would argue that it hasn’t changed much over the centuries:

“It is a striking fact that in the development of embroidery … there are no changes of materials or techniques which can be felt or interpreted as advances from a primitive to a later, more advanced stage. On the other hand, we often find in early works a technical accomplishment and high standard of craftsmanship rarely attained in later times” (The Art of Embroidery, 1964).

But these modern-day needle-and-thread pioneers beg to differ. A&D has put together this list of the best and most creative embroidery to prove that while the ancients were good, nothing holds a thimble to what these modern masters can accomplish! Which stitch do you find the most impressive? (H/T)

01. Embroidered Cat Shirts By Hiroko Kubota

Hiroko Kubota

02. A 92-year-old Grandmother Creates A Spectacular Collection Of Embroidered Temari Spheres

Nanaakua

03. Embroidered Vegetables By Veselka Bulkan

Veselka Bulkan

04. Artist Embroiders On Metallic Objects

Severija Inčirauskaitė-Kriaunevičienė

05. Instead Of Taking Photos, Teresa Lim Embroiders Her Travels On-site

Teresa Lim

06. Artist Meredith Woolnough Uses Home Sewing Machine To Capture Nature’s Most Delicate Forms With Embroidery

Meredith Woolnough

07. Urban Cross Stitch

Urban x Stitch

08. Embroidered Animals By Chloe Giordano

Chloe Giordano

09. Embroidered Portraits By Cayce Zavaglia

Cayce Zavaglia

10. Artist Ana Teresa Barboza Creates Landscape Embroidery Art That Leaps Out Of Its Frames

Ana Teresa Barboza

11. Embroidered Animals By Claire Moynihan

Claire Moynihan

12. Artist Lauren Spark Recreated Van Gogh’s ‘starry Night’ Using Only Needle And Thread

Lauren Spark

13. Embroidered Leaf Art By Hillary Fayle

Hillary Waters Fayle

14. Artist James Merry Decorates Sports Logos With Embroidered Flowers

James Merry

15. Artist Danielle Clough Embroiders On Old Tennis Rackets

Danielle Clough

16. Artist Chara Embroiders Notebook With Veins, Holograms, And Floral Patterns

Chara

17. Toast Embroidery By Judith G. Klausner

Judith G. Klausner

18. Cross-Stitched Solar System By Navid Baraty

Navid Baraty

19. Embroidered X-ray Film By Matthew Cox

Matthew Cox

20. Artists Spent Up To 100 Hours Embroidering Paint On Clothing

Lisa Smirnova

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