Juliana Muñoz Toro Writer, embroiderer from Bogotá, Colombia

Juliana is a writer and also uses threads and needles to tell stories. With this craft, she participated in Cornelia's artist residency in 2023 and embroidered the cover of the book "En una trama infinita", also a result of this residency. She lives in Bogotá with her husband and a cat named Rima. She studied journalism in Colombia and got an MFA in Creative Writing at New York University.

Juliana has published many children's books in search of lyric realism, such as "24 señales para descubrir a un alien" (24 signals to uncover an alien), "Albina," "A la sombra de un naranjo" (Under the shadow of an orange tree), "El vuelo de las jorobadas" (The flight of the humpback whales), among others.

Juliana took part in Cornelia's "Artist in Residence Program" in Spring 2023.

We had this interview with Juliana in 2023.

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What brought you to your art?

First, it was writing. I wrote to organize my chaotic inner world and to preserve memories. And then, it was embroidery. I grew up with a seamstress mother: She made me dresses and dolls, and everything her hands created was a gesture of love. Some years ago, I discovered that thread was our common language, and I began to embroider to materialize my affection and the stories.

How did you get the opportunity to participate in Cornelia's 'Artist in Residence program'?

I met her through Zoom during a Colombian event called "Seminario de Literatura Infantil y Juvenil de Pereira". In a conversation between her and Adolfo Córdova emerged the opportunity to participate in that program. I sent a couple of embroidered pieces inspired by "El dragón blanco y otros cuentos" by Córdova.

How did you like your time at Fraggina? Did you find inspiration there?

It was perhaps the most magical week of my life. I felt like I was in one of Cornelia's stories: a fairy's wood, a cozy studio full of books, and the opportunity to chat with Cornelia and learn from her creative process. I found more than inspiration: I found friends among my fellow mates, the animals, and the spirit of the house. I found space to absorb beauty.

La enredadera (Photo: Julian Mora-Oberlaender)

What did you take home from there?

A renewed motivation to write and embroider stories, a new perspective on fantasy as a genre capable of conveying emotions, a couple of embroidered pieces inspired by a story that Cornelia read to us, some beautiful fabrics that we were able to print ourselves thanks to Cristina Giorgi. And most importantly, a heart filled with creative drive! I am incredibly grateful for this experience, and I cannot wait to be there again in the future.

fabric book video