Danielle Gori-Montanelli

"There are no lofty philosophical or theoretical concepts behind my work. I just throw myself into the rich warm textures and colors of the felt and watch the pieces evolve almost by themselves."

After years of working as a metalsmith, Danielle Gori-Montanelli felt as if her craving for color and texture was satisfied when she discovered felt. This vibrant medium enabled her to better explore her colorful, fanciful style in a larger scale. It also freed her from the confines of her workbench, allowing her to work with just a few simple tools, to follow where inspiration led, whether in her studio or in a flowery field in the countryside.

When she begins a piece, Danielle Gori-Montanelli has only a basic vision in her mind, more about what the work feels like than what it looks like. She cuts the felt by hand using her old metal shears, and starts building up the layers, sewing them together using strong sharp needles to penetrate the thick material. She enjoys the improvisational nature of the process, toying with the colors and forms, letting the work evolve.