By Patricia Belyea
LA CONNER, WA When I heard Victoria Findlay Wolfe speak about her newest work, I gained insights into her nostalgic quilts exhibited on the top floor of the Pacific Northwest Quilt & Fiber Arts Museum.
Her show, Virtual Voyage: Pixels & Patchwork, is open through Labor Day weekend.

Victoria stands tall—literally and figuratively—in the modern quilt movement. She founded NYC’s Metro Mod Quilters, and her quilt Double Edged Love won Best in Show at the first QuiltCon in 2013.
The Pixels & Patchwork quilts defy easy categorization. They combine modern, traditional, and improv quilting styles—whatever piecing works to communicate her message. And, they include fabrics digitally printed with Victoria’s own photos. Instead of looking futuristic, these art quilts appear to have been made years ago!

Victoria revealed that the star of the show is Grandma Elda. Disabled by arthritis by the age of 40, Elda stitched by hand while young Victoria cut up double-knit polyester for her projects.
Victoria’s portrait of Elda pairs a photo of her grandmother with hand-stitched crimplene patchwork—styled after Elda’s own quilted creations.
But it wasn’t just quilting that bound these two generations. Elda and her husband’s love of family and life instilled in Victoria a determination to live like them—with positivity and purpose.
Another seminal piece in the exhibit is titled What Keeps You Up at Night? As a child, Victoria spent many hours lying awake, thinking about shapes, colors, and patterns. Victoria’s working approach, with ten to 15 quilts in process at one time, underscores her restless creative spirit.

A BFA graduate of College of Visual Arts in St. Paul, Victoria pushed against the norm by making paintings that were quilted. This choice sparked a public conversation about art versus craft that continues to follow her today.
The resolution of this debate? Victoria approaches her work as an artist. Especially as she chooses to open her inner self to others through her work.

Here’s a surprising fact: when Victoria has a Eureka moment while piecing a quilt top, she gets goosebumps. This emotional response confirms she has arrived at a design that totally excites her.
The quilts in this Northwest exhibit share the people and places that shaped Victoria’s early life. Extended labels contribute personal stories behind each composition of textile, stitch, and surface treatment.

I’ll close with my favorite piece from the show: Garden Delights. Fresh patchwork at the top, a faded mirrored image at the bottom, and an innovative edge all come together in one compelling work.

I hope your summer plans include visiting the historic waterfront town of La Conner —and of course, a stop at the quilt museum.
Say hi to the museum team there who work hard to curate top quilting exhibits for us. The general admission fee is $10 (if you’re not a member), and donations to the museum are always appreciated!

Quilts by Victoria Findlay Wolfe
June 4 to September 7, 2025
703 South Second Street
La Conner, WA 98257
Due to the historical standing of the Mansion, handicap access is limited.
Handicapped parking is located at rear of building.
Please call 360-466-4288 for specific accessibility questions or concerns.

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ABOUT US: Okan Arts, a petite family business, is co-owned by mother-daughter duo Patricia Belyea and Victoria Stone. Patricia and Victoria host in-person and online creative quilting experiences, and lead textile tours to Japan.
FOLLOW OKAN ARTS ON INSTAGRAM @okanarts