Artist as Quiltmaker 2026

The Artist as Quilt Maker reframes quilts as powerful works of contemporary art rather than purely domestic or decorative objects. Quilts are visual records of lived experience—sites of innovation, storytelling, memory, and activism. Developed in contexts where women were excluded from formal art institutions, quilting required the same skills celebrated in painting and sculpture: complex composition, sophisticated color relationships, material experimentation, and technical discipline. This exhibition foregrounds contemporary quilt artists who continue to expand the form, affirming quilting as a vital and ongoing artistic practice.

Important dates:

Call for Entry: January 31-March 31, 2026

Jurying dates: April 1-April 24, 2026

Quilts due by May 30, 2026

Exhibition open June 13- August 2, 2026

Opening reception on Saturday, June 13, 2026

The Artist as Quilt Maker challenges the idea of quilts as purely domestic or decorative objects, presenting them instead as powerful works of contemporary art. Long associated with warmth, home, and inheritance, quilts are also visual records of lived experience—sites of innovation, mastery, storytelling, memory, and activism.

Quilting developed in contexts where women’s creative labor was excluded from formal art institutions. Denied access to training and recognition, women built rich artistic traditions within domestic spaces. Quilts require many of the same skills celebrated in painting and sculpture, including complex composition, sophisticated color relationships, material experimentation, and sustained technical discipline. Created to mark life events, ensure survival, or express personal vision, quilts have always carried intention and authorship.

Quilts also function as collective memory across cultures, preserving community histories where written records were scarce. Made from recycled materials and shared knowledge, they reflect resilience, labor, faith, and continuity. This exhibition foregrounds contemporary quilt artists who continue to expand the form, affirming quilting as a vital and ongoing artistic practice.

Eligibility
AQM is open to contemporary artists working in quilt-based practices. Hand-stitched works are especially encouraged; machine-stitched works will also be considered. Artists should submit images representing the work they intend to exhibit.

Key Dates

Call for Entry: January 31–March 31, 2026

Jurying: April 1–April 24, 2026

Notification: By April 28, 2026

Artwork Due: May 15–May 30, 2026

Exhibition: June 13–August 2, 2026

Opening Reception: Saturday, June 13, 2026

Entry Fee & Submission

Entry Fee: $40 (payable through www.callforentry.org or by cash/check to FAVA)

A maximum of three works may be submitted.

Each artwork must be submitted as a separate application.

After submitting your first entry and paying the $40 fee, use the coupon codes below for additional entries:

Entry2 – second artwork

Entry3 – third artwork

Entry Deadline: Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at midnight (MST)

Questions? Email kathleen@fava.org

Images

Jurying will be conducted from digital images only. Image quality is critical.

Images must accurately represent the work.

The full image should be photographed on a neutral background with all edges visible.

2D Work:

2 images required: one overall image and one detail

3D Work:

3 images required: one overall image, one detail, and one additional view

File Requirements

File format: JPG or JPEG only

Longest side: at least 1200 pixels (larger files will be resized)

File size: under 5 MB

File Naming (Do not include your full name):
Use initials and title only.

2D: Initials_Title_overall.jpg, Initials_Title_detail.jpg

3D: Initials_Title_view1.jpg, Initials_Title_view2.jpg, Initials_Title_detail.jpg

(Note: File naming conventions are not required by CaFÉ but help jurors.)

Jurying

Jurying will be conducted from submitted digital images.

Artwork that differs significantly from submitted images may be disqualified.

Delivery of Accepted Work

Artists are responsible for hand-delivering work to FAVA. 

All hanging materials and instructions must be included.

Delivery Window: May 15–May 30, 2026

Pick-up Window: August 4-14, 2026

Delivery Address:
FAVA
First Floor, Suite 210
39 S. Main Street
Oberlin, OH 44074
440-774-7158

Sales

FAVA retains a 40% commission on all sales.

Artist payment will be issued within 30 days of the exhibition’s close.

Liability

FAVA will insure accepted work for 70% of fair market value while in its care.

Documentation of value is required in the event of damage or loss.

FAVA reserves the right to limit insurance coverage on individual works.

Calendar Summary

Jan 31, 2026: Online entry opens

Mar 31, 2026: Entry deadline (midnight MST)

Apr 28, 2026: Jury notifications sent

May 15–30, 2026: Artwork due

Jun 13, 2026: Exhibition opens & artist reception

Aug 2, 2026: Exhibition closes

Aug 4, 2026: Return of unsold work begins

By submitting work to The Artist as Quiltmaker 2026 via www.callforentry.org, artists confirm that any accepted artwork will be available for the exhibition and will remain at FAVA for the full duration of the show.

Submission also constitutes permission for FAVA to photograph the artist and their artwork, and to use images of the work, image details, and excerpts from the artist’s statement or bio in promotional, educational, and outreach materials across all media.

Upon acceptance, artists must email high-resolution digital images (300 DPI, 8 × 10 inches, JPG or PNG) of the artwork, including at least one overall image and one detail image, to kathleen@fava.org, along with the signed artist contract.

All accepted artwork must arrive ready for installation. Artists are responsible for providing appropriate hanging devices, rods, special hooks, and clear installation instructions as needed. 

Eligibility

This exhibition is open to artists living in the US. Artists must deliver and pick-up their work in person. NO MAIL-IN work will be accepted. 

Artists may submit up to three artworks for consideration.

One artwork per application is required.

Artists submitting multiple works must complete separate applications for each piece.

The $40 entry fee applies to the first application only.

Use coupon codes Entry2 and Entry3 for second and third applications to avoid additional fees.

Image Requirements

2D work: Two images per artwork (one overall image and one detail).

3D work: At least two views per artwork; an additional view may be included.

Innovative two- and three-dimensional quilt-based works are eligible.

Work must have been completed within the last five years and may not have been previously exhibited at FAVA.

Collaborative works are eligible. Artists submitting both collaborative and individual works must apply separately using different email addresses.

All work must be an original design or concept and may not have been created in a class or workshop. Student work is acceptable if created independently, outside the classroom, and without instructor guidance.

Maximum artwork dimension is 108 inches in height or width.