Embroidered cultural heroes – in pictures

In her portraits, installations and street art, Mexican textile artist Victoria Villasana applies colourful embroidery to pictures of artists, musicians and politicians. “I started using portraits of people who I consider visionaries,” she says, “as well as vintage photographs and cross-cultural portraits.” Inspired by expressionism, surrealism and pop art, she often chooses feminist icons such as Frida Kahlo, Nina Simone and Beyoncé. The use of embroidery is her n