Nearly a dozen Gee’s Bend quilters captivated more than 25,000 attendees in late February at QuiltCon 2026 in Raleigh, North Carolina, the world’s largest modern quilting event. The quilters served as Featured Artists and shared the bold artistry, rich history and living legacy that have made their work internationally celebrated.
An exhibition of 25 Gee’s Bend quilts anchored their space, giving attendees an opportunity to view modern works alongside legacy quilts more than 50 years old. Dr. Elliot Knight and Dr. Jacqueline Viskup of the Alabama State Council on the Arts juried the exhibition.
“It’s an unusual opportunity for people around the world to engage with Gee’s Bend quilters,” said Kim V. Kelly, executive director of The Freedom Quilting Bee Legacy Museum. “People know their work. They admire their artistry. But it’s not often that the quilters are in a space where they can spend real time talking, sharing and connecting. That’s what made this so special. The Freedom Quilting Bee Legacy is thankful to the Modern Quilt Guild for extending the invitation to be the featured organization for the convention.”
Throughout the event, Gee’s Bend quilters hosted live demonstrations that drew eager crowds. QuiltCon had never offered such a demonstration before. Two large quilts were mounted in frames, inviting attendees to pick up a needle and thread and try hand quilting with guidance from the quilters.
“Hand quilting is unusual in this era, but it’s what most of the Gee’s Bend quilters do,” Kelly said. “Visitors could sit down, stitch alongside a quilter, and have conversations about their lives, their art and their stories. QuiltCon had never been able to offer that kind of interaction before.”
The excitement continued with exclusive “walk-and-talk” sessions led by the quilters. The 45-minute conversations, limited to about 30 participants each day, explored the influence of Gee’s Bend quilting on art, fashion and culture.
Kelly also delivered an opening-day presentation titled “County Road 29: Fifteen Miles in Rural Alabama That Changed the World.” She traced the resilience, creativity and global impact of Gee’s Bend and highlighted a historical connection: Some of the original enslaved people of Gee’s Bend were from Halifax County, North Carolina. They were forced to walk to Gee’s Bend and many still carry the last name Pettway from Mark Pettway, the man who brought them to Alabama.
“We were able to talk about that shared history and connection between Gee’s Bend, Alabama, and Halifax County, North Carolina,” Kelly said. “It made being in Raleigh even more meaningful.”
For Alabama’s Black Belt, the moment was one of pride and celebration.
“Alabama’s Black Belt is filled with amazing history and culture, and it’s wonderful when we can export that to other parts of the country and tell our unique story,” said Pam Swanner, director of the Alabama Black Belt Adventures Association. “The Gee’s Bend quilters are perfect ambassadors for the Black Belt.”
More than 3,000 people attended last year’s Airing of the Quilts Festival in Gee’s Bend, and momentum continues to build.
“From a 15-mile stretch of rural Alabama to the largest quilting stage in the world, the women of Gee’s Bend once again proved that their art doesn’t just hang on walls—it connects generations, communities and history itself,” the Gee’s Bend Quilters said.
The 2026 Airing of the Quilts is scheduled for October 3.
