Elizabeth Turner’s “Pieced Together: Patchwork of a Central City Quilt Block”
Elizabeth Turner said art has always been a creative outlet for her. From Culloden, WV, Elizabeth studied graphic design in college and graduated with a BFA in Textile Design. She most often draws or paints and, on occasion, transfers those skills into murals and installations, such as her latest piece, “Peiced Together: Patchwork of a Central City Quilt Block.” Elizabeth said she was drawn to the opportunity to celebrate the living tradition of quilting as a public art and was honored to be selected to be part of the Central City Quilt Trail Reimagined project in July 2026. She shared more about the mural design and inspiration!
“I believe deeply in art’s ability to connect people across differences, and I am particularly drawn to traditions where art lives outside of galleries, embedded in daily life, memory, and place,” Elizabeth said. “Quilting, especially within Appalachian communities, represents this idea powerfully,” she added. Quilts have long functioned as records of gatherings, family histories, and collective labor, and with this in mind, Elizabeth said she was inspired to design a patchwork quilt that represents a collage of stories, history, and people.
Patchwork quilts are made of an assortment of quilt squares and geometric shapes in vibrant colors, woven from disparate elements into a cohesive whole. “It functions as both artwork and marker, a contemporary quilt that weaves together the history of its location, honoring the past while speaking to the present,” Elizabeth said. “Through this mural, I aim to honor quilting traditions while bringing my own visual language to them.”
Elizabeth said that the collaboration and artists’ support from RenewAll and ReCreate Appalachia made this such a unique and fun experience. “Getting to meet up with the other artists to talk through our ideas and learn about different processes made this experience even more memorable,” Elizabeth said. “I so appreciate every person who was a part of this project, especially fellow muralist, Callie Thacker, who helped me install my mural,” she added.
“Pieced Together: Patchwork of a Central City Quilt Block” is now on display at the Huntington Peddler’s Mall, located at 800 W. 14th Street, Huntington, WV. Check out more work by Elizabeth on Instagram @etc.reative. Learn more about the Central City Quilt Trail and other artists involved with the project by visiting the project page online.
