Weaving Tradition Into Digital Future

By Elke Porter | WBN News Vancouver | November 20, 2025
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The Museum of Anthropology at UBC (MOA) will present the world premiere of Jaad Kuujus: Everyone Says I Look Like My Mother, a solo exhibition by Northwest Coast weaver Lily Hope O'Brien, running from December 4, 2025 to March 29, 2026.

O'Brien's journey to becoming a master weaver is as unconventional as her artistic approach. After retiring from competitive snowboarding in the early 2010s, she immersed herself in the ancient art of Northwest Coast weaving, studying under master weavers to learn the intricate techniques passed down through generations.

Her dedication led her to master naaxiin (Chilkat) weaving, one of the most technically complex textile traditions in the world. But O'Brien didn't stop at mastering tradition—she began pushing its boundaries. By creating digitally rendered reproductions of her weavings, she found new ways to deepen her understanding of technique while offering fresh perspectives on this time-honoured art form.

Jaad Kuujus: Everyone Says I Look Like My Mother features more than a dozen works spanning O'Brien's career, presenting an innovative fusion of the tactile and the digital. Visitors will experience digitally-assisted weavings alongside augmented reality installations, creating an immersive exploration of how ancient practices can speak to contemporary audiences.

At its heart, the exhibition reflects on themes of repetition and regeneration—concepts inherent to both the weaving process and the transmission of cultural knowledge. O'Brien invites visitors to examine the foundational thread of ancestry and consider its influence across past and future generations, much as the exhibition's title suggests her own connection to maternal lineage.

This winter debut marks a significant moment for both the artist and MOA, showcasing how traditional Indigenous art forms continue to evolve while maintaining their cultural significance.

For more information about Jaad Kuujus: Everyone Says I Look Like My Mother, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1348094796860533 to learn more.

Elke Porter at:
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TAGS: #Northwest Coast Art #Indigenous Art #Chilkat Weaving #Digital Art #MOA UBC #Contemporary Indigenous Art #WBN News Vancouver #Elke Porter