Levi Simpkin’s “Wheel of Time” Mural at the Huntington Children’s Museum

Levi Simpkins has been wanting to create a mural somewhere in Huntington ever since he moved here five years ago. He shared that he has been creating art since his childhood, with a speciality in oil painting, but has always admired the art of Appalachian quilting. In the summer of 2026, as one of eight artists selected for the Central City Quilt Trail Reimagined, Levi was able to make his dream a reality with his latest mural, “Wheel of Time.”

Levi’s quilt mural features a variety of bold, bright colors, which he said relate to its location: The Huntington Children’s Museum. “I wanted to treat each section of color like a piece of fabric, so I added patterns throughout to give it a more patchwork/quilted appearance,” Levi shared. “I also included native WV animals in each quadrant of the square.”

Levi shared that the design was inspired by a classic quilt square pattern called the “Wheel of Fortune,” which traditionally represents the passage of time. “I thought this was fitting for the Children’s Museum, so I wanted to allude to the passage of time as it relates to childhood, growing up, and seasons of life,” Levi said. 

Levi said he worked on the mural for months, during which he experienced some unexpected medical emergencies. Nevertheless, he persisted and now has a piece that thousands will see and enjoy. “I’d have to say the most enjoyable part was stepping back and seeing it finished after it was all said and done,” he shared. He also said he'd never worked with Polytab before. “As an artist who wants to do a lot more murals in the future, learning to work with Polytab was a very valuable experience,” he added. 

As an artist who grew up in a smaller town in West Virginia, Levi said moving to Huntington has given him a lot more opportunities than people might expect. “Projects like this are what encourage people like me to continue doing art while staying in my home state, which is very important to me,” Levi said. “Appalachia, West Virginia specifically, needs art, and I believe communities thrive more when more art is present and encouraged.”

“Wheel of Time” is now on display at the Huntington Children’s Museum, located at 720 W. 14th Street, Huntington, WV. You can check out more of Levi’s work and his artist journey by following his Instagram pages @slug.sweater & @indigo.richwood. Learn more about the Central City Quilt Trail and other artists involved with the project by visiting the project page online.