Homage to Baltimore: A Quilting Exhibition | Closing Reception + Artist Talk

Homage to Baltimore
A Quilting Exhibition
2026
presented by Mayor Brandon M. Scott

Please join us for the Opening Reception on June 6th from 6-9pm at Current Space! Winners announced at the opening.

Opening Reception: Saturday, June 6 from 6-9pm
Exhibit Runs: June 6 – July 19, 2026
Closing Reception & Artist Talk: Sunday, July 19 from 4-6pm
Gallery Hours: Saturdays from 1-5pm, during public events, or by appointment
Location Current Space, 421 N Howard Street

Including:
Janice Adams-DeVance
Denise Bailey-Jones
Sharon Coffman
Piecing with a Purpose Quilt Collective
John Collins and family
Elaine Foster
Linda Frost
Liz Holland
Brenna Horris
Danamarie Hosler
Colleen Hughes
Kianga Jinaki
Marnee Keith
Karen Middleton
Jantzen Nolan
Claudia Pearce
Ursula Populoh
Sheila Reiss
Angelia Rice
Lauren Stephens
Baltimore Heritage Team
Kimberly Tucker
8th Graders in Ms. Downing’s Class at Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women

Sponsored by:
Mayor’s Office of Arts, Culture & Entertainment
Maryland State Arts Council
Maryland Folklife Network
Orser Center for Public Humanities at UMBC

Quilting has always been…stitched… into Baltimore’s story. From practical bedcovers to decorative works of art, quilts reveal connections to global textile and dye trades while grounding themselves in the city’s working-class traditions. Baltimore’s most famous contribution to this legacy is the Baltimore Album Quilt, a mid-19th-century style known for its elaborate appliqué blocks—floral motifs, patriotic emblems, and personal dedications—combined into one-of-a-kind community heirlooms.

In 1981, Mayor William Donald Schaefer celebrated this tradition with a citywide quilt competition that drew makers from across Maryland. Exhibits at City Hall and the Baltimore Museum of Art showcased the artistry of local quilters, with a $1,500 grand prize going to a striking black, white, and gold geometric design inspired by the city’s iconic marble stoops. The winning quilt with the marble step design captured Baltimore’s rowhouse traditions, while dozens of other prizewinners reflected the breadth of Maryland quilting—many of which can now be seen at https://www.homagetobaltimorequiltingcompetition.com/

Among the participants was Mimi Dietrich, whose quilt from the event now resides in the Maryland Center for History and Culture. This history is now being carried forward 45 years later. With quilting communities still active across Baltimore—from guilds to classrooms to living rooms to community workshops—the revival builds on a strong foundation.

Project Leader:
Dr. Sarah Fouts

Project Coordinator:
Kat Gill

Juried by:
Mimi Dietrich
Monique Crabb
Dr. Christa C. Gilliam