Witness: Sharing Cancer Stories
Witness: Sharing Cancer Stories is a series of seven quilts exploring the experience of young adults during and after cancer treatment. These striking visuals draw attention to the alarming increase in cancer among young people and offer the perspective of those who have been through it. Francesca Olsen, who lives with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer, uses tarot and medieval imagery, embroidery, and Foundation Paper Piecing to create a body of work about balance, re-entering the world, dealing with caregivers and the medical industry, and building community among people who have been through cancer.
Witness was exhibited at Ventfort Hall Gilded Age Mansion and Museum in Lenox, Mass., from February-March 2025, and will be featured as a special exhibit at the Great Wisconsin Quilt Show in Madison in September 2025.
Media Coverage
Artist Francesca Olsen uses quilting to tell stories of cancer survival and struggle | Berkshire Eagle, February 2025
“Witness” Explores Living with Cancer Through Quilts | Rural Intelligence, February 2025
Quilt Exhibit | Ventfort Hall 2025
Quilt Exhibit on Display at Ventfort Hall | iBerkshires March 2025
This project was created with funding from Artists at Work.
Exhibit “Witness”
“Witness” is open to exhibition requests from galleries, healthcare facilities, quilt shows, and beyond. Please send a message to get in touch about presenting this show in your community.