Veronica Conaky Mays

Veronica “Conaky” Mays is a Rhode Island native whose background is in writing (Journalism, poetry, fiction), and Drama. She worked in the newspaper industry as a District Manager and a weekly columnist. She next taught high school English in Rhode Island, Alaska, and Italy! In 2019 she began to pursue art quilting in earnest being partial to using African-inspired fabric to create pieces that reflect her culture. Now, Mays has added quilted coats and quilted postcards to her repertoire.

Mays’ works have traveled to various states as well as to France since finding her artistic voice. Her work was featured in the January 2023 edition of Quilt Folk magazine. In July 2024 she was selected by Rhode Island Monthly magazine in their “Best of Rhode Island” issue as an “Artisan to Watch”. Additionally, Mays had been the coordinator of the weekly Five Star Souper Kitchen at Community Baptist Church in Newport, RI, for the past 20 years. She also serves on the steering committee for AIDS Quilts RI. "Heart Wide Open" is her first published book.