Winter/Spring 2026 Exhibits
Prizewinners from the International Quilt Festival 2025, Art to Art Challenge from The National African American Quilt Guild, and The Traveling Artist: Works of Denise Burkitt
LA GRANGE, TEXAS—JANUARY 5, 2026—The Winter/Spring seasons at the Texas Quilt Museum once again show the power of creativity, diversity, and skill that is ingrained in the fabric (literally!) of the art form with three new exhibits: Prizewinners from the International Quilt Festival 2025, Art to Art Challenge from The National African American Quilt Guild, and The Traveling Artist: Works of Denise Burkitt. These exhibits will be on display from January 8-April 25, 2026.
Painted Ponies on the Prairie (107” x 63”) by Melissa Sobotka. The Janome Master Award for Innovative Artistry.
In the exhibit Prizewinners from the International Quilt Festival 2025.
Prizewinners from the International Quilt Festival 2025 features 14 quilts which won an honor at last fall’s International Quilt Festival in Houston. They showcase a wide variety of styles, techniques, and innovation, and certainly had the crowd’s rapt attention at the show while they were on display.
“It’s always a pleasure to see some of the Festival Judged Show prizewinners up close and personal,” says Museum Curator Vicki Mangum. “Among the works you will see are two of the Master Award Winners: Painted Ponies on the Prairie by Melissa Sobotka and Tricuspid Biomorph #2 by Caryl Bryer Fallert-Gentry. There are also two Judge’s Choice quilts and other category winners. The quilts are all outstanding and will have you studying each for their beauty, ingenuity, and techniques.” Partial sponsorship for this exhibit is provided by Gene Reynolds & Associates, PLLC.
It’s Never Too Late to Learn (35” x 39”) by Sharon Mooney. In the exhibit Art to Art Challenge.
Art to Art Challenge showcases 29 works by members of The National African American Quilt Guild, whose motto is “Celebration, Education and Service!” Quilting colleagues Rhonda Masters, Laura Casmore, and Sharon Mooney of Texas founded the NAAQG in 2021. The group encourages creativity, promotes and facilitates education in the art of quilting, and celebrates the heritage of African American quilting while serving the community at large.
“We are pleased to share this exhibit with our Texas Quilt Museum audience,” Mangum says. “This exhibit will help celebrate Black Heritage Month at the Museum, an annual celebration in February that honors the achievements of African Americans throughout U. S. history.” Partial sponsorship for this exhibit is provided by The Lucille Gaebler Klein Fund.
Mango Floss: Theme—Island Vacation (42” x 44”) by Denise Burkitt. In the exhibit The Traveling Artist: Works by Denise Burkitt.
And finally, The Traveling Artist: Works of Denise Burkitt presents 20 pieces by the noted Australian quilter/designer whose work has indeed taken her all over the world.
“When Denise Burkitt travels, she is open to being amazed!” Mangum says.
“Her exhibit reflects her creative experience on the journey—the feelings and mood of a place as well as her sensory connection to the surroundings. The inspiration of colors, textures, shapes and line intuitively energizes and sparks a passion to paint directly onto fabric via mark-making with various tools.” The quilts were made using several of Burkitt’s own designed fabrics. Be sure to check out her use of color and line!