IMMA presents the first exhibition in Ireland by the Gee’s Bend Quiltmakers exploring a 200-year tradition of quilt making

A new exhibition of quilts made by the Gee’s Bend Quiltmakers, a group of African American women with a 200-year tradition of quilt making, opens at IMMA, the Irish Museum of Modern Art, on Friday 28 February 2025, co-organised with Souls Grown Deep. Kith & Kin: The Quilts of Gee’s Bend follows the legacy and familial traditions of quilt making that have existed in Gee’s Bend, a remote river island community in Alabama dating from the 19th century.

The quilts are a testament to resilience, community, and a legacy woven through generations. Passed down primarily from mother to daughter, the tradition of quilt making flourished within a tight-knit community grappling with the enduring legacy of slavery, oppression and the fight for civil rights. The women of Gee’s Bend have created quilts that hold both artistic and political significance. Artistically, their work is renowned for its improvisational style, bold colours, and abstract designs, often compared to modernist art movements like abstract expressionism. The quilts, made from recycled fabrics, are deeply rooted in African American textile traditions and showcase unique creativity in geometric patterns.

Politically, the quilts reflect resilience and self-sufficiency, as they were born out of necessity in an economically deprived, racially segregated region. Imbued with a deep connection to the land, their ancestors and geography, each stitch is a poignant reminder of the struggles and triumphs of a community that persevered through adversity.

Commenting on the exhibition Mary Cremin, Head of Programming, IMMA, said; “The quilts of Gee’s Bend transcend mere craft; they are powerful social and historical documents. They offer a critical counter-narrative to dominant art historical discourse, challenging the traditional hierarchies that often exclude the voices of marginalised communities. Kith & Kin is the first in a series of exhibitions at IMMA this year that will explore the use of textiles in art making”.   

While the artistry of Gee’s Bend has been exhibited in museums worldwide, Kith & Kin: The Quilts of Gee’s Bend marks the first time the quilts have been shown in Ireland. The exhibition concentrates on the connection between mother and daughter and the intergenerational relationships seen in the different styles, patterns and colours. The significance of storytelling through the quilts is an important part of the making, with the quilts serving as both a celebration of African American heritage and a testament to the strength and creativity of women in the face of systemic oppression. This exhibition aims to recognise their invaluable contribution to art, and to ensure that their legacy continues to inspire and enrich future generations.

– ENDS –  
 
For media inquiries, please contact:  
Monica Cullinane E: [email protected] T: 086 2010023  
Patrice Molloy E: [email protected] T: 086 2009957  
 
Additional Information  

Kith & Kin: The Quilts of Gee’s Bend 
28 February – 27 October 2025  
Admission Free  
Open: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 10am – 5.30pm
Wednesday: 11.30am – 5.30pm
Sunday: 12noon – 5.30pm
Webpage: Kith & Kin: The Quilts of Gee’s Bend

IMMA Talk  
The Ties that Bind: Community and Artistry in the Quilts of Gee’s Bend 
A lecture by Raina Lampkins-Fielder 
Thursday 27 February at 5pm / Johnston Suite, IMMA / Booking required on imma.ie 
Raina Lampkins-Fielder, Chief Curator for Souls Grown Deep, presents a talk on the unique quilt making tradition of Gee’s Bend. This talk is followed by the opening of Kith & Kin: The Quilts of Gee’s Bend.
A recording of this talk will be made available to listen back to on IMMA’s SoundCloud channel.  Places are limited for this talk.

About Souls Grown Deep 
Souls Grown Deep (SGD) advocates the artistic recognition and empowerment of Black artists from the American South, promoting visibility, scholarship, and education about their contributions to art history and fostering economic development and racial and social justice in their communities. Founded in 2010, the organization derives its name from a 1921 poem by Langston Hughes (1901-67) titled The Negro Speaks of Rivers, the last line of which is “My soul has grown deep like the rivers.”

Souls Grown Deep stewards the foremost collection of works by Black artists from the Southern United States, and advances recognition for artists through collection transfers, research, loans, exhibitions, education, public programs, and publications. More than 500 works from SGD’s collection have been acquired by over 40 museums in the U.S. and around the globe, creating new opportunities for public access and scholarship. A leading voice for equitable practices in the art world, SGD works collaboratively with artists and communities to advance their stated needs and goals through support for the creative economy, intellectual property rights, fair compensation models, economic and political empowerment, and values-aligned investing. For more information, please visit soulsgrowndeep.org.