Kith & Kin: The Quilts of Gee’s Bend at American Museum & Gardens

About

This exhibition celebrates the extraordinary work of a group of African American women from a remote river island community in Alabama, which embodies a 200-year tradition of making quilts that hold both profound artistic and political significance.

Politically and historically, the quilts reflect resilience and self-sufficiency, as they were born out of necessity in an economically deprived, racially segregated region. The civil rights movement brought attention to these women, who became symbols of Black empowerment and cultural pride.

The quilts serve 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.

Co-organised by the Irish Museum of Modern Art/IMMA, Dublin and Souls Grown Deep, USA (a non-profit organisation dedicated to the recognition and empowerment of Black artists from the American South) this is the only showing of the exhibition in the UK.