Danielle Clough on Art, Embroidery, and Following Creative Instincts

Podcast

Aug 5

Art & Cocktails Podcast | Hosted by Ekaterina Popova

We’re thrilled to welcome South African artist Danielle Clough to the Art & Cocktails podcast and feature her colorful, genre-defying embroidery work. Danielle’s art blends traditional craft with contemporary themes, reimagining fiber through the lens of pop culture, personal narrative, and material experimentation. From vintage tennis rackets to Gucci sneakers, her work challenges where and how embroidery can exist in modern life.

In this conversation, Danielle joins host Ekaterina Popova to reflect on her unconventional path from VJ and fashion design student to internationally recognized embroidery artist. She shares how her early experiments with plush toys and “thread sketching” sparked a deep love for the medium—and how a chance feature on Colossal helped launch her creative career.

Danielle’s newest body of work, Crewel Intentions, currently on view at Paradigm Gallery in Philadelphia, explores time, memory, and femininity by reimagining vintage Playboy imagery through dense layers of hand-stitched thread. The collection is both playful and poignant, balancing craft history with cultural commentary.

Throughout the episode, Danielle opens up about honoring the slow process of embroidery, the joy of making without perfectionism, and the mindset shifts required when collaborating with major brands like Nike and Gucci. She also reflects on the value of craft in contemporary art and encourages artists to follow their own pace and curiosity—even when it doesn’t fit into traditional molds.

If you’ve ever felt torn between art and craft, or questioned whether your creative path is “valid,” this episode offers a thoughtful and affirming perspective from an artist who has carved her own lane.