Raquel Rodrigo is a Spanish artist who, for more than 14 years, has been revolutionising the perception of the traditional craft of cross-stitch, giving it a new dimension in public spaces. Her extraordinary installations take the craft technique to building facades, urban elements and various interiors around the world. It all started in 2011, with the decoration of the shop window of one of the tailor shops in Madrid. Today, Rodrigo’s art is a global phenomenon.
Born in Valencia in 1984, Raquel Rodrigo was educated in fine arts, commercial interior design and shop window design. In her projects, carried out under the Arquicostura Studio, she masterfully combines tradition with a modern approach to art. Her work not only redefines urban spaces, but also highlights the importance of female craftsmanship in the history of art.
Key projects: where cross-stitch meets architecture
Rodrigo is known for her highly striking decorations of building facades. One of her most recognisable projects is the embroidered facades in Estavayer-le-Lac, Switzerland, created as part of the Artichoke festival. Patterns of roses, the town’s symbol, were subtly integrated into the architectural fabric, giving one residential building a unique, almost fairytale-like character. The façade of the Bellavista Eyewear optical shop was similarly decorated. It was decorated with a classic embroidery pattern that harmonises with the elegant interior design. In Valencia, meanwhile, Rodrigo enriched the entrance to the Anartxy jewellery shop, taking inspiration from local history. Motifs such as oranges, fishermen and traditional falleras costumes became a key decorative element in this project.
Cross-stitch embroidery: magic in interiors
The artist’s work also adorns the interiors of prestigious spaces. At the Davidson Consulting office in Paris, one of the walls was covered with tropical embroidery, welcoming visitors in an artistic yet modern style. And in the coworking space Utopic Us in Barcelona, embroidered balustrades with a mandarin motif have become a distinctive and recognisable element of the building. The Vaqueta restaurant in Valencia is another example of the masterful combination of embroidery and interior design. The restaurant’s customers dine surrounded by images of oranges by Rodrigo, a subtle reference to the local identity.
Art installations: blending tradition and modernity
Rodrigo’s work also extends to spectacular spatial installations. In the cultural capital of Saudi Arabia, Al Bujairi, the artist has created nine embroidered columns up to four metres high. Floral desert motifs combined with Arabic geometric patterns, illuminated after dark, created a monumental visual effect during the Diriyah Season festival. And at Valencia’s Centro Cultural del Carmen, Rodrigo presented an installation with embroidered corals that took on fluorescent colours after dark and synchronised with sound. Meanwhile, as part of the Create Without Haste campaign for Alhambra Beers, the artist created an 11-metre-long embroidery with the message ‘HAY COSAS QUE NECESITAN TIEMPO’ (‘Some things take time’), emphasising the value of patience in the work of both the craftsman and the brewer. The artist was inspired here by the colourful mosaics of the Alhambra.
A new definition of cross-stitch embroidery
Raquel Rodrigo proves that cross-stitch embroidery is not only a traditional household craft, but also an artistic medium with a global reach. Her unique approach to this technique allows her to redefine urban space and culture. Through the artist’s work, cities become living galleries.
Source: Raquel Rodrigo/ArquicosturaStudio
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