Laura Petrovich-Cheney
These vibrant wood sculptures bridge two distinct contemporary craft media—wood and fiber. Following the tradition of quilting, I create colorful sculptures using both traditional and modern patterns. These "wood quilts" address personal and environmental themes, drawing inspiration from feminism and traditional women's arts like needlework, weaving, and quilting. By repurposing discarded materials, I aim to reveal traces of personal histories, identity, and shared humanity. Many of these materials come from homes destroyed by Hurricane Sandy, including my own, and are sourced from discarded domestic items. Through my work, I encourage viewers to reflect on concepts of home, safety, and the environmental impact of our shifting climate. In the spirit of generations of quilters, I transform these meaningful remnants into a fully realized art form, repurposing the past into something enduring.
~Laura Petrovich-Cheney
"Constellation" repurposed wood construction. 30" x 30" x 1". $4,500
Built from salvaged wood with its original paint, this piece transforms fragments of past lives
into a field of luminous star motifs. Each square carries its own history—weathered textures,
subtle imperfections, traces of time—brought into a new, rhythmic harmony. The repeating
star pattern creates a sense of lift and lightness, an upward movement that animates the entire
surface. It’s a work that honors repair, celebrates color, and brings a bold, contemporary
warmth to any collection.
into a field of luminous star motifs. Each square carries its own history—weathered textures,
subtle imperfections, traces of time—brought into a new, rhythmic harmony. The repeating
star pattern creates a sense of lift and lightness, an upward movement that animates the entire
surface. It’s a work that honors repair, celebrates color, and brings a bold, contemporary
warmth to any collection.
"School Uniform" wood construction 15" x 15" $500
This piece, “School Uniforms,” was created in late August, when early sunsets, cooler
nights, and the first whisper of turning leaves hint at the shift of seasons. It takes me back
to my Catholic school days—wearing a uniform that stayed itchy until October, clearly
designed by someone with an unusual sense of fashion. The work reflects that bittersweet
mix of nostalgia and change, when the carefree days of summer give way to structure and
routine.
Equational". repurposed wood construction. 30" x 30" $4,500
Inspired by the endless recombination inside a kaleidoscope, Equational arranges reclaimed wood into a dynamic grid of mirrored triangles. The composition shifts with every glance, echoing movement and light. At the center, a nested square acts like a zoomed-in lens—and if you look closely, subtle math markings remain on the boards. Preserved intentionally, they hint at the underlying structure and decision-making behind the piece, adding a layer of intimacy and intrigue for the viewer.
"Tumbling Blocks" repurposed wood construction 13" x 13" x .75". $500
Tumbling Blocks animates the classic quilt pattern into a shifting, near-tidal movement. The salvaged wood—still carrying its weathered paint—creates a field that seems to rise, fall, and turn in on itself, much like the sea in constant motion. The cubes appear to tilt and tumble, offering a sense of vulnerability and aliveness, as if the ground beneath them were shifting. It’s a work that captures the beauty of instability—the way motion, upheaval, and change can still hold a quiet order.
Deal Breaker" repurposed wood construction. 30" x 30". $4,500
Deal Breaker is composed from salvaged wood in its original paint, arranged in rhythmic horizontal bands that echo landscapes, architecture, and the quiet order of daily life. Unexpected flashes of color and the fragment of the word DEAL create tension and intrigue—inviting the viewer to consider what’s kept, what’s discarded, and what becomes a turning point. The piece balances calm structure with bold accents, offering a sophisticated, modern presence in any space.
"The Good Neighbor". repurposed wood construction 30" x 30" x 1". $4,500
This work explores the moment when two lives intersect—one house in crisis, another offering presence and support. Built from salvaged wood gathered from communities marked by upheaval, the paired houses embody resilience and the quiet strength of human connection. Together, they become a reminder that even small gestures of care can bring light into difficult moments.
"Sunkissed" repurposed wood construction 15" x 15" x 1". $500
Sun Kissed captures the quiet radiance of light moving across a landscape. Formed from
salvaged wood, each curved piece becomes a small arc of color—soft yellows, warm corals,
deep blues, and weathered neutrals—echoing the shifting glow of the sun at different moments
of the day. The repeated quarter-circle forms create a gentle rhythm, like sunlight slowly
sweeping across a room. It’s a work that holds warmth, memory, and the subtle beauty of
illumination.
salvaged wood, each curved piece becomes a small arc of color—soft yellows, warm corals,
deep blues, and weathered neutrals—echoing the shifting glow of the sun at different moments
of the day. The repeated quarter-circle forms create a gentle rhythm, like sunlight slowly
sweeping across a room. It’s a work that holds warmth, memory, and the subtle beauty of
illumination.
"Buttoned Up". repurposed wood construction. 15" x 15" x 1". $500
Every alternate square in this work contains a small central block—a sculptural “button” that pulls the pattern inward and adds depth to the surface. These tiny elements create a steady visual cadence, balancing the bold color fields with moments of quiet precision. Their repetition gives the piece a refined architectural quality, while their scale adds intimacy. It’s a sophisticated interplay of geometry, rhythm, and the subtle pleasure of detail.
"Seaglass Dreams" repurposed wood construction. 30" x 30" x 1". $4,500
Sea glass teaches us that beauty can rise from brokenness—that time, pressure, and movement can transform flaws into something luminous. That same quiet resilience is at the heart of this piece. Drawing on a coastal palette of fog grey, seafoam green, azure blue, sunshine yellow, and coral red, I arranged salvaged wood into a kaleidoscope-like pattern. The composition echoes the rhythms of the shoreline: fragments reshaped, colors softened, and chaos settling into calm.
Sunsets of Key West" repurposed wood construction. 15" x 15". $500
The cold of New England winters often kept us tucked inside. When we did venture out
into the frozen air, we were so bundled in layers we could hardly recognize each other. I
missed the simple joy of mingling outdoors and hearing laughter carry across the streets.
In this piece, I’ve tucked in tiny pink and lime-green wood fragments gathered on my
last trip to Key West. They came from storm repairs I stumbled upon years ago, and plac-
ing them here felt like weaving a bit of Mallory Square’s glowing sunsets into the work--
small reminders of warmth, color, and community.
into the frozen air, we were so bundled in layers we could hardly recognize each other. I
missed the simple joy of mingling outdoors and hearing laughter carry across the streets.
In this piece, I’ve tucked in tiny pink and lime-green wood fragments gathered on my
last trip to Key West. They came from storm repairs I stumbled upon years ago, and plac-
ing them here felt like weaving a bit of Mallory Square’s glowing sunsets into the work--
small reminders of warmth, color, and community.
"Potcake Love" repurposed wood construction 14" x 14". $500
I came across a navy headboard covered with all kinds of stickers. One in particular caught my eye:
Potcake Love. At first I thought it was related to cannabis, so I looked up the meaning before incorporating it into my work. To my surprise, Potcake Love is about dogs!
The Potcake dog, also known as the American Village Dog, is a mixed breed found in the Caribbean Islands. The name comes fro0m a local dish of seasoned rice with and pigeon peas-overcooked rice that sticks to the bottom of the [other, known as the "potcake," is often mixed with leftovers and fed to the dogs.
Inspired by this discovery, I will donate 10% of the sale from this piece to the SPCA Northeast Animal Shelter in Salem, MA to support the homeless dogs in my community.
Potcake Love. At first I thought it was related to cannabis, so I looked up the meaning before incorporating it into my work. To my surprise, Potcake Love is about dogs!
The Potcake dog, also known as the American Village Dog, is a mixed breed found in the Caribbean Islands. The name comes fro0m a local dish of seasoned rice with and pigeon peas-overcooked rice that sticks to the bottom of the [other, known as the "potcake," is often mixed with leftovers and fed to the dogs.
Inspired by this discovery, I will donate 10% of the sale from this piece to the SPCA Northeast Animal Shelter in Salem, MA to support the homeless dogs in my community.