The Four Icons
2018–2023
Cotton fabric · Improvisational piecing · Hand-guided machine quilting
20 × 19 inches
Overview
The Four Icons reflects on the fractured nature of contemporary society. Each icon stands as an individual symbol, representing a distinct human quality and point of view. On their own, the forms feel separate and self-contained, echoing how modern life often emphasizes difference and division.
When viewed together, however, the icons reveal a quieter truth. Despite their individuality, they are visually and conceptually connected. The piece suggests that fragmentation does not have to mean isolation. Differences can coexist, reinforce one another, and form something more resilient when allowed to remain in dialogue rather than opposition.
This quilt is both a reflection on division and a hopeful reminder that unity does not require sameness. Strength can emerge from contrast when individual identities are allowed to remain intact.
Completed quilt, The Four Icons (2023).
Finished quilt top of The Four Icons before quilting.
Quilting detail highlighting the halos.
Back of the quilt showing the quilting.
Detail of the quilting on the back.
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Size:
20 × 19 inchesCompleted:
2023Materials:
Cotton fabricsTechniques:
Improvisational piecingPiecing:
Improvisational construction with intentional fragmentation and visual separationQuilting:
Hand-guided machine quiltingBacking / Binding:
Cotton backing and facing
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In The Four Icons, I explore the tension between individuality and collective identity. Each icon is intentionally distinct, symbolizing unique human traits, beliefs, or perspectives. These differences often feel amplified in contemporary culture, where separation can overshadow connection.
Rather than forcing cohesion through uniformity, this piece allows each form to exist independently while still contributing to a larger visual relationship. The quilt asks viewers to consider how individuality and unity can coexist without compromise. It reflects my belief that meaningful connection does not erase difference, but grows from acknowledging and respecting it.
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For this piece, I matched both the top and bobbin thread to the pieced fabrics throughout the quilt. I wanted the stitching to quietly support the structure and color relationships rather than stand apart from them.
The only exception is the halos that surround and connect the icons. Those were intentionally quilted differently, allowing them to stand out visually and act as a unifying element across the composition.
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Exhibitions
Abstractions in Fabric — Solo Exhibition
Castleton Bank Gallery (The Bank Gallery)
Rutland, Vermont
August 25–October 13, 2018
Exhibited in an earlier quilt-top state; final quilting completed in 2023.