Viola Burley Leak (born 1944) is an American visual artist, designer, and educator known for her narrative quilts.
Leak is based in Washington, D.C. Viola Burley was born in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1944.
[4][9] Her pieces often deal with religion and African American heritage, blending her personal experiences with mystical elements.
[12] Leak is a member of the Women of Color Quilters Network (WCQN), founded and led by Carolyn L.
She has been in a number of notable exhibitions, including Gathered Visions: Selected Works by African American Women (1990–1991) at Anacostia Community Museum;[14][15] When the Spirit Moves: African American Dance in History and Art (2000–2001) at Anacostia Community Museum;[16][17] Threads of Freedom: The Underground Railroad Story in Quilts (2001) at Oberlin College;[18] Racism: In the Face of Hate We Resist (2021) at the Textile Center in Minneapolis;[19] and Black Pioneers: Legacy in the American West (2023) at The California Museum in Sacramento.