Artist Statement

I've always had a love affair with fabric. As a child, I would slowly trail behind my mother in stores, reaching out and touching everything. I reveled in texture. The sensation of cotton, corduroy and silk would linger as I walked away.

My eyes feasted on color. Brightly patterned flowers vied with uniform plaids while neon brights did their best to outshine them all. Even the scent of fabrics would woo my senses.

This love affair has never faded. Over the years, I've found joy in sewing and quilting projects of all shapes and sizes.

Today, I focus on creating textile collages from abandoned fabric—old clothes, neglected ties, torn denim and upholstery samples. Inspired by the quilters of Gee’s Bend, I create one-of-a-kind contemporary art pieces using traditional methods of stitching, embroidery, dyeing and more.

-Tori Costa

About

Tori Costa is a digital content marketer by day and creator by night. She loves dark roast coffee, art and all things Portuguese.

Born and raised in Rhode Island, Tori has made the Boston area her home. She was a longtime volunteer of the Nave Gallery in Somerville, where she curated multiple exhibitions, including: Secret Gardens, Bite: Food as Art, Branded: Art of the Beer Label, The Knit Art House in Crochetville, and Threads Bared. She also served on the board of the Somerville Arts Council, and continues to look for ways that art and activism can play a role in her life.