Lisa Ellis is a quilt artist, teacher, and lecturer whose work bridges tradition and innovation. Fascinated by the Cathedral Window block, she explores its interplay of fabric, light, and dimension through a contemporary lens. By working in a series, Lisa reimagines this motif with fresh color palettes, shifting scales, abstraction, and negative space demonstrating how a single form can become a framework for modern expression. She encourages quilters of all levels to use series work to spark ideas, refine skills, and build a cohesive artistic voice.

Lisa’s professional journey began with advanced degrees in Math and Computer Science and a 23-year career in engineering, project management, and executive leadership. Since retiring in 2003, she has dedicated herself to the arts and nonprofit service.

As chair of Sacred Threads, Lisa directed its biennial exhibition of quilts on themes of spirituality, joy, healing, grief, and peace. Though the exhibit has moved from Washington, DC to Indianapolis, she continues to serve as treasurer and mentor to its new leadership team.

Her leadership extends across the quilting community: she is a past President of Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA) and currently serves on the boards of the Quilt Alliance and the International Quilt Museum. She also curates Art in Hospitals, a growing initiative that places quilt exhibitions in healthcare settings, where art becomes a source of comfort, connection, and renewal. Her leadership has included prestigious institutions such as Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the University of Michigan, Auburn University, National Institutes of Health, and INOVA Schar Cancer Institute, and the UChicago Medicine Hospital.