Current Exhibition: Limerence, an illusion of loneliness 

On display at: Monsters of the Underworld in New Orleans, LA from October 10, 2026- November 2, 2026

Gabriella Valentino is a beading and embroidery artist from the south side of Chicago, currently based in New Orleans. Her current collection features hand beaded embroidery on corsets. Historically, corsets, also widely known as “stays” beginning in 16th century Europe, were worn as a stiff, supportive structure to the upper half of the body and limited breathing to the wearer. Limerence, the intense romantic infatuation with Another, real or fictional, is also a form of restriction to the soul. Weaving together the real and the imaginary, this is a show of beading embroidery on corsets, speaking to the role restriction plays in both Limerence and corset wearing and how the creation of fantasy and fairy tales can both hinder and free us from restriction.