Viktoria Brave

Viktoria Brave is an emerging textile artist who invokes myths, archetypes and symbolism to explore the entanglements of beings and systems within the Anthropocene — the human-made epoch. “Using thread as a research theme, creative metaphor and medium,” she says, “I express the unfolding story of the 21st century using weaving, quilting, embroidery, woodworking and story-telling. 2025 marks the emergence of my artist point-of-view and persona: Viktoria Brave.”

Viktoria has had a pretty busy and exciting 2025 so far – from participating in the Textile Takeover at Macaulay House in February, to Gather in the County in June, all while creating art and participating in farmers’ markets in Wellington and Picton – she is embracing the arts community in Prince Edward County and beyond.

Recently Viktoria has participated in Common Grounds PEC, an artist residency pop-up at the Picton Farmers’ Market, where she invited the community to add ‘connecting threads’ on the quilted community Friendship Map of the County, with each thread making a connection between social ties throughout the County.

Viktoria currently has a bas-relief woodcarving of Canada on a wooden crest (aptly titled ‘Canadian Shield’) on display in this year’s Art in the County juried exhibition and sale, on view in the County Arts Lab until July 13th, 2025. Carved from a pine that grew on the Canadian Shield, it is the Artist’s timely response to the political and economic threats coming from our southern neighbour.

After Art in the County closes, the County Arts Lab will be host to Viktoria’s first solo exhibition, Emergence, encompassing a body of quilt work spanning the past two years. This just scratches to the surface, so read on to hear more from Viktoria about other events they’re showing work at this year, the philosophy behind ‘Emergence,’ and advice for artists just starting out!

Tell us about any projects you have going on:

I am hosting my first solo show of figurative and politically engaged quilts at the County Arts Lab, July 16th to 27th, 2025. This will be an amazing installation of 28 quilts produced over the last two years. To accompany this show, I’ve written my first zine — poetically expressing the story weaving my work together. This show really feels like my ‘coming-out’ and I hope to see you there!

My work is also increasingly being juried in shows across the province and beyond. ‘Big Heart’ and ‘Diamond-Self’ were juried into Quilt-Canada 2025 in Mississauga. ‘First Sighting’ will be going to Indianapolis for the Sacred Thread exhibit. One of my experimental weavings ‘As Strong as Our Shield’ will be displayed in the 16th Contemporary Art exhibit of the Museum of Northern History (Kirkland Lake).

I’m also a new member of the PEC Studio Tour (taking place this Sept. 19th to 21st) and I will be showcasing my weaving (tea towels, shawls and experimental wall art) at The Maker’s Hand, November 7th-9th.

What have you worked on recently that has you excited?

Working on ‘Emergence’ has been an exhilarating experience! Very humbling but empowering too! Works in this series use the archetype of the Phoenix to express not only my own symbolic re-birth, but also the process that our Western civilization must consider and embrace during this critical century. Often, concepts and ideals compel me to put in long hours in the studio, cutting materials and re-combining them — quilting being a perfect analog for the socio-political task at hand.

Being immersed in this process is humbling because, working improvisationally, I must trust that each minute decision will turn out beautifully. Over the last 2 years, I learned to listen to my inner voice and it has been truly empowering. Making art is my way to find the images, the words and the courage to speak up.

Which tools or resources have helped you the most in your artistic career?

My coach and mentors, peers and friends! I wouldn’t call them ‘tools’ or ‘resources’ — this wouldn’t do justice to the mutual companionship that we share as fellows makers~artists~humans on the Earth. I make art to bridge the divide between my own inner world and the inner world of other people — so when I get a glimpse of how others see my work, what they think of my half-baked thoughts, or ask questions and validate (or challenge) my emotional reactions, it helps me tremendously.

What advice would you give to artists just starting out in their careers?

Invest in yourself! Invest time in the studio, explore for a while but then, turn time and passion into FINISHED work and show it. This can be scary … but it’s also a powerful way to grow!