Gee’s Bend quilters take center stage at national quilting event

The Freedom Quilting Bee Legacy and the Gee’s Bend Quilters took center stage at the world’s largest modern quilting conference and exhibition in Raleigh, North Carolina, in February.

The four-day QuiltCon 2026 event welcomed more than 25,000 attendees from across the globe. Ten quilters from Gee’s Bend were in attendance, including Loretta Pettway Bennett, Marlene Bennett Jones, Emma Mooney Pettway and Lue Ida McCloud.

"For too long, the extraordinary artistry of the Gee's Bend quilters has been admired from a distance,” said Kim V. Kelly, executive director of the Freedom Quilting Bee Legacy Museum. “QuiltCon gave our quilters the chance to stand in the spotlight they've always deserved, to share their craft, tell their stories and connect directly with people who value what they create."

Twenty-five quilts by Gee’s Bend Quilters were featured in a major exhibition. Legacy quilts, some more than 50 years old, were also on display and available for purchase.

Attendees experienced live quilting demonstrations, offering a rare opportunity to witness the process and skill behind these world-renowned works.

Attendees also had the chance to sit and stitch alongside the quilters of Gee’s Bend. Quilters from Gee’s Bend were also able to sell their quilts and other handmade quilted items directly to the public.

Kelly gave a presentation about the history, resilience and global impact of Gee’s Bend.

QuiltCon is produced by the Modern Quilt Guild and is the largest modern quilting conference and exhibition in the world, drawing more than 25,000 attendees each year.