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Spring/Summer Exhibits Celebrate a Special U.S. Birthday, Presidents, & the Refurbishing Work of Teresa Wong!
LA GRANGE, TEXAS—April 29, 2026—The Texas Quilt Museum focuses on history and honor with their spring/summer exhibits. They include the juried exhibit My America…What It Means to Me to celebrate the country’s 250th birthday; Hooked On Presidents, which features hand-hooked rug portraits of U.S. leaders; and Old Quilts Made New, a passion project for Teresa Wong. They will be on display April 30-August 29, 2026.
My America…What It Means to Me celebrates the enduring story of our nation through the powerful language of fiber. This exhibition of 21 works invites viewers to experience America as seen, felt, and remembered by quiltmakers from across the country.
The quilts in this exhibition reflect personal and collective interpretations of America—its triumphs and challenges, its joys and sacrifices. Through imagery and stitch, artists explore ideas of freedom, home, family, land, and history, offering deeply individual perspectives that together form a rich and nuanced portrait of our nation. Partial sponsorship provided by Reynolds & Associates PLLC.
Both antique and contemporary works are featured, embracing all techniques and origins. Unified not by style or era but by meaning, these quilts honor the diverse ways Americans express identity, memory, and belonging. This is a conversation in cloth, inviting reflection on who we are, where we have been, and how the fabric of our shared story continues to evolve.
What is Freedom? (40" x 52") by Luana Rubin
Warren Harding by Nola Heidbreder and Linda Pietz
Hooked on Presidents brings American history to life—one loop at a time. This remarkable exhibition features 44 hand-hooked rug portraits of U.S. Presidents, created by acclaimed sister artists Nola Heidbreder and Linda Pietz. It offers a fresh, engaging approach to presidential portraiture through the traditional folk art of rug hooking.
Each portrait goes beyond likeness, weaving in symbolic “fun facts” and personal details that humanize the presidents and invite viewers of all ages into the story. Designed by Pietz and meticulously hand-hooked by Heidbreder, the rugs combine historical research, artistic wit, and extraordinary craftsmanship—all rendered in wool with rich color and texture.
Race to Veracruz (75” x 85”) by Teresa Duryea Wong and an unknown artist
And finally, Old Quilts Made New celebrates the quiet transformation of the unfinished and the forgotten. Quiltmaker, author, and historian Teresa Duryea Wong brings new life to 20 exquisite antique quilt tops, completing works that were begun generations ago but never finished. Rooted in a no-waste, preservation-minded approach, this project honors the labor, materials, and intentions of the original makers while extending their legacy into the present.
Each antique top is carefully stitched on a modern longarm quilting machine using hand-guided, free-motion techniques—no computers, no automation. Wong’s sensitive quilting enhances the original piecing without overpowering it, allowing the historic fabrics and patterns to remain at the forefront. Her stitches act as a gentle conversation across time, bridging past and present through thoughtful craftsmanship.
While the names and stories of the original quiltmakers have been lost, Wong believes deeply that “Every quilt deserves a story.” Partial sponsorship provided by the Lucille Gaebler Klein Fund.
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!
Texas Quilt Museum 2025 Ezine
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