A Closer Look: Texture and Layers in Weave of Life



Each panel in Weave of Life carries its own story. While the installation is meant to be experienced as a whole, sometimes it helps to slow down and look closely at a single piece.

This panel brings together fabric, encaustic wax, and a gel print on paper. Each material holds its own history and energy. The fabric introduces texture from reclaimed pieces of samples that once lived another life. The gel print is a memory created with my sister-in-law, Liz, introducing me to geli prints for my birthday. The encaustic wax fuses everything together, creating depth and luminosity as each layer is melted and bonded into the surface.

When you step back and look at the full panel, those individual elements begin to work together. The fragments become part of a larger pattern—much like the moments, memories, and materials that make up our lives.

Sometimes the beauty of the weave is not only in the finished image, but in the textures and stories that live within it.


Weave of Life Project: In Progress

Weave of Life is an evolving, living project—growing panel by panel, story by story. This space offers a glimpse into the process as it unfolds: from early material gathering and studio moments to community contributions and new installations. You’re invited to follow along as the work develops and to see how memory, nature, and community connection are woven together over time. Subscribe to get updates directly to your e-mail! For project details visit: https://www.nancyfritzart.com/weave-of-life

Read more from Weave of Life Project: In Progress
Close-up of a fragile honeycomb resting on a teal encaustic panel, showing the delicate hexagonal wax structure of the comb against the smooth painted surface below. The honeycomb was left behind by a bee colony removed from Nancy Fritz's former home and

We were days away from closing on our old house when we found out there were unexpected tenants moving in. Bees had built a home in the space between the balcony floor and the porch ceiling. A colony, fully committed, completely unbothered by our closing date. We were lucky. Within a few days, a beekeeper was able to remove and relocate the hive safely. The bees found a new home. We closed on schedule. And they left something behind: The honeycomb came out intact — fragile and intricate. I...

Beautiful panel — the texture of the reclaimed material on the border against the smooth encaustic interior is striking. Alt text (blog/accessibility): "Close-up of a leaf-shaped Weave of Life encaustic panel by Nancy Fritz, featuring a periwinkle blue wa

There is a number that lives in my head right now. 13. That's how many Weave of Life panels I need to make every week between now and September 12th, when I install approximately 300 panels at Monroe Community Church in Grand Rapids for ArtPrize 2026. I'm doing the math in the living room. Our house is being renovated, so Charlie and I are temporarily in an apartment. The encaustic painting table is next to the Glowforge, which is next to Charlie's desk and the couch. Materials are stacked...

A large square framed panel displaying the Seed of Life geometric pattern, composed of dozens of individual encaustic panels in varied colors and textures. Each panel features unique layered wax surfaces in deep reds, blues, greens, golds, and earth tones

This Work Won't Exist After September Weave of Life - Seed of Life 2 On June 22nd, Weave of Life — Seed of Life 2 opens at the Indy Art Center in Indianapolis as part of Art From the Heartland, a group exhibition running through September 13th. This is the first time this particular arrangement of panels has been shown in a formal exhibition setting. And it will be the last time it exists in this form. Here's what I mean by that. Weave of Life is a long-term, modular installation — hundreds...