Crochet is not generally viewed as a fine art, nor is it commonly used as a vehicle for social change. But New York-based artist Agata Oleksiak (aka Olek) is challenging those assumptions by elevating the craft and using it as a force for community building. With the streets as her canvas, Olek uses the help of local volunteers to crochet her large-scale crochet masterpieces. For her latest project, “Love Across the USA,” she will travel to every state in the United States to produce crocheted murals that celebrate prominent women in US history. With each unique installation, she’s developed an art form that truly belongs to everyone.

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