LatinAmerica’stextileheritageisdeeplyrootedinancienttraditionsofweaving,dyeing,and culturalexpressionthroughcloth.FromtheAndestoMesoamerica,textileshavelong expressedidentity,spirituality,andconnectiontolandandcommunity.Cotton,cultivatedfor millennia,andothernaturalfibers,suchascameloidwoolandagavefibers,offeredmakersa richrangeofcolorsandtextures.
Indigenousartisansmasteredweaving,embroidery,andappliqué,techniquesthatcontinueto inspirecontemporaryartists.WhilepatchworkandquiltingareoftenassociatedwithWestern traditions,theyalsoresonatewithLatinAmericanpracticesofreusingandlayeringfabrics, whereimaginationandresourcefulnesstransformtextilesintoexpressionsofself.
Today,artistsacrosstheregionreinterpretthesematerialsandmethods,blendinginherited skillswithmodernnarratives.Theirworkcontinuesadialoguebetweenpastandpresent, stitchingtogetherfragmentsofcloth,memory,andexperienceintosomethingwhole,resilient, anddeeplyhuman.
PriscillaBianchi
AsanativeGuatemalan,IbeganusingMayanhandwoventextilesearlyinmycareer.Exploringother traditionalfabrics,I’mfascinatedbytheparallelsin techniques,designs,andmotifsbetweendistant cultures.
Thispiece,designedandmachinepiecedbyme,and long-armquiltedbyLauraLeeFritz,depictsaMayan huipil.
MayanGuatemalanhand-woventextiles,commercial cottons,hand-dyedfabrics,andIndonesianbatiks.
PriscillaBianchi Guatemala
SpellingA-R-TwithWhiteand ManyX’s,2020
51H x 36W
InspiredbyMayanGuatemalantextilesand myfascinationwithletters,Ibegan incorporatingtypographyintomywork.Inmy ongoingseriesSpellingA-R-T,letters becomevisualelements;shapesintertwining andtransformingintonewabstractforms.
Designedandmachinepiecedbyme,and long-armquiltedbyLauraLeeFritz.
MayanGuatemalanhand-woventextiles, embroideredGuatemalanfigures,hand-dyed fabrics,Indonesianbatiks,Africanfabric,and commercialcottons.
PatriciaPérez-CantoCaffrey
Chile/US
RestlessRhythm,2024
32H x 34W
RestlessRhythmexploresmovementthroughshifting blocksizesandcolorinterplay.Irregulargeometry createsaspontaneous,flowingrhythm.Using machinepiecing,Iconveymotionthatfeelsprecise yetdynamic;orderedyetrestless.
Machinepiecingandmachinequilting.
Commercialanddyedcottonfabric.
PatriciaPérez-CantoCaffrey
Chile/US
RhythmInterrupted,2023
36H x 36W
RhythmInterruptedcapturesmotionthroughflashes ofcolorbreakingablackfield.Irregularblocksdisrupt rhythm,creatingsurprisewithinorder.Usingmachine piecing,Iexploremovementthatfeelsalive, imperfect,andchargedwithenergy.
Machinepiecingandmachinequilting.
Commercialcottons.
MaríaEugeniaCorbella
Argentina/Spain
Ivan,2022
41H x 43W
Asabiologistandquilter,Imergemypassionsto raiseawarenessofnatureandenvironmentalissues. ThisquilthonorsIvan,achimpanzeefreedafter40 yearsincaptivity,nowlivingpeacefullyinaMadrid sanctuary.
Hand-dyeing,painting,collage,freemotion embroideryandquilting,fusedrawedgeapplique.
Hand-dyedcotton,commercialfabricsandsilkrayon threads.
MaríaEugeniaCorbella
Argentina/Spain
FlashofInspiration,2025
39H x 33W
Asamindfulnessandarttherapyinstructor, Iexpressthecreativeforceflowingwithin methroughintuitivebatik.Usingfourcycles ofwax,paraffin,anddye,Icombined meditationandfreemovementtorevealmy creativeessence.
Mindfulness,intuitivebatik,hand-dyed fabric,free-motionquilting.
Cottonfabric,beeswax,paraffin,cantingsof differentgauges,dyes,silkrayonthreads.
PilarDonoso
Chile
Mestastasis,2022
Iexpressmyselfthroughfabricandthread,guidedby colorandemotion.Metástasiswasbornfromgrief; mywaytostitchtheinvisibleandtransformsorrow intobeauty,honoringmysisterValentinabeyond words.
Handandmachineapplique,machinequilting.
Cottonfabrics,cottonbatting,yarn.
Colorismylanguageandconnectiontothe world.LasCalasdeValdiviaemergedfroma fishmarket’svibrantcallalilies,capturedin photographybutreinterpretedthroughquilting, exploringcolor,form,emotion,andmemory.
Machineapplique,machinequilting.
Cottonfabrics,cottonbatting.
De-Forest,2025
AmyFreyn
ThisquiltreflectsAmazoniandeforestationin Ecuador.Lushgreensevokerainforestvitality, whileburntorangeandbrowndepictclearedland, losthabitats,anddisplacedspecies.De-Forest invitesreflectiononecologicalfragilityand environmentalconsequences. Improvpiecing,freemotionquilting.
Cottonfabric,polyesterthread.
LightIt2,2025
23H x 17W
LightIt2depictsaMolotovcocktailoutlined againstlayeredcolorandchaoticmarks.Using textiles,traditionallycomforting,itbecomes unsettling,invitingreflectiononfire’sdualrolein protest,danger,andtransformativepossibility.
Improvpiecing,threadpainting,fabricpainting, freemotionquilting. Cottonfabric,cottonthread,fabricpaint.
MichelleGafford
Chile/USA
Exploration1SewingCommunity, 2023
12H x 12.5W
Thispiecebeginsaseriesmadefromelements gatheredatthe2023TorontoSAQA Conference,whereattendeesstitchedduring talks,breakoutsessions,andquiethotel momentscapturinginspirationsharedthrough fabric,thread,andconnection.
Handstitching,machinepiecing,handquilting.
Upholsterysamples,silkties,manillapaper, mappaper,buttons,cottonthread.
CostaRica/Spain
WindofChange,2024
GabrielaGrilloCastillo
40H x 40W
Theblueandyellowenergyevokeslife’schanging winds,sometimesagainstus,sometimesinour favor.Itinvitesreflection,calm,andfaiththateven indarkness,thesunstillshines,guidingusthrough anoceanofhope.
Improvisationalpiecing,machineandhandquilting.
Cottonfabric.
CostaRica/Spain
CreatedEqual,2023
GabrielaGrilloCastillo
47H x 33W
ApersonallifeexperiencewithmysonandMartin LutherKing’s“IHaveaDream”inspiredthisquilt. Itremindsusthatweareallcreatedequal,loveis thekeytorespect.
Improvisationalpiecing,collage,paperpiecing, handembroidery,machineandhandquilting.
Cottonfabric.
CeciliaKoppmann
Argentina
Hexagrama,2024
40H x 68W
Whatbeganasanexerciseinusingleftoverlinen andsilkscrapsevolvedintoavisualscore.Six undulatingrowsofcolorfragmentscreaterhythm anddialogue,wherewhitebecomessilence, listeningamidexpression,contrast,andrestraint.
Machinepiecedandquilted.
Linen,silk.
CeciliaKoppmann
Argentina
Redisforblood.Wecover,repair,andpatchan irrationalworldtornbyconflict,believingpainwill fade.Yeteachjoinedscraprevealswounded memories,truthseepingthroughtheseamsof crueltyweweavetogether.
Rawedgeapplique,machinefreemotion quilting. Upholsteryfabric,linen,silk,burlap,cotton.
Caminito,2023
24H x 24W
TeresitaLeal Argentina
ThisworkpaystributetoLaBoca,oneof BuenosAires’mostpicturesqueneighborhoods. Itscolorfulwoodandmetalhousesrecallthe conventilloboquenseandthevibrantwavesof immigrantswhooncefilledArgentina’svast spaces. Quiltasyougorawedgeapplique.
Hand-dyedcottonfabrics.
TeresitaLeal
Village-IntegratingSeries,2024
42H x 22W
InexploringmyIntegratingseries,Iwasdrawn tothefusionofLatinAmericanartand Europeanmodernism.InVillage,Ireimagineda ruralLatinAmericansceneinaCubiststyle, blendingidentitiesandtraditions.
Quilt-as-you-goraw-edgeappliqué.
Hand-dyedandcommercialcottonfabrics.
Thisworkspeaksofastimulatinganddynamic balance,createdduringatimeofchange, introspection,andconnectionwithmy surroundings.Hand-stitchingeachfragment throughchallengingdays,Ifocusedonvibrant yellows,magentas,andfadingblacks,starsand constellationsguidingmetowardlight,faith,and creation.
Handpieced,embroidered,andquilted.
Eco-dyedcottonfabrics,silk,recycledties, assortedthreads.
Chile/Mexico
OneinEveryFour,2021
CarolinaOneto
InLatinAmerica,104millionpeoplelivein informalsettlements,oneinfoururban inhabitantsfacingpovertyandmarginalization. Withthisquilt,Iseektomakethese“villas,” “favelas,”and“ranchos”visible,exposingdeep socialinequality.
Improvpiecing,matchstickquilting.
Fabrics,threads,batting.
CarolinaOneto, Chile/Mexico
Riommaggiore,2025
62H x 59W
Riomaggiorereflectsourfamily’sjourneyfrom ItalytoChile.MyNonno,at14,venturedalone andfoundlovewithmystrongNonna.Their legacyinspirescompassion,honoringmigration andembracingdiversehumanjourneys.
Machinepieced,improvpiecing,walkingfoot quilting,handquilting. Fabrics,threads,batting.
AlisonSchwabe
Australia/Uruguay
CaribbeanCrush,2022
38.5H x 38W
Thisworkspeaksofstimulatinganddynamic memoriesofPanama,Colombia,Cuba,anda Caribbeancruisemergingintoavividmosaic ofcolor,nature,andmusic;yetbeneaththe beautylietracesofcolonialviolence,political tension,andsocialinequality.
Rawedgehandapplique,handquilting.
Commercialcottonsincludinghanddyed, polyesterthreads,polyesterbatting.
AlisonSchwabe, Australia/Uruguay
GreenDimension,2022
41H x 39W
Green,myfavoritecolor,appearshereinmany variations.Gridlayouts,mypreferreddesign plan,bringcalmandorder,offeringbalance amidthechallengingsocialandpolitical pressuresoftoday’sworld.
Machinepiecing,handstitchedrawedge applique,handquilting.
Commercialcottonsincludinghanddyed, polyesterthreads,polyesterbatting.
Chucao-TerritorialBird,2024
33H x 28W
LoretoSilva
Chile
ChucaoisaterritorialbirdfromsouthernChile, knownforitssongandfolkloreasasignofgoodor badluck.Myworkwithnativebirdshighlightsthe needtopreserveChile’suniquespecies.
Ecoprintdyeing,handembroidery,andapplication technique.
Cottonfabrics,cottonscraps,cottonsewing machinethreads.
HummingbirdandtheAbitolones,2024
LoretoSilva Chile
TheChileanhummingbirdandabutilon illustratethemutualbondbetweennativefauna andflora.Thebirdfeedsontheflower’snectar, aidingsurvivalforboth.Thisworkseeksto raiseawarenessandencouragepreservation.
Ecoprintdyeing,handembroideryand applicationtechnique,freemotionquilting.
Cottonfabrics,cottonscraps,cottonsewing threads.
Melanin,2025
40.5H x 26W
MarissaVignali
Thisworkreflectsthediversityofhumanskin color,fromAfrica’shighUVexposuretoregions wherereducedsunlightledtomelaninloss. Interwoventonesevokemigration, displacement,andoursharedjourneyacross thegreenearth.Itinvitesviewerstofindtheir ownconnection.
Machinepiecingandquilting.
Handdyedfabricsandcommercialbatiks, embroiderythread.
Uruguay/USA
TorresGarcía,2023
26H x 19W
MarissaVignali
GwenMarstonmeetJoaquín
I’velivedhalfmylifeintwocultureswhile becomingascientist,Uruguay,whereIembraced fibersdespitetheir“feminine”label,andtheU.S., whereIfoundquilting.Thispiecehonors modernistJoaquínTorresGarcíaand improvisationalquilterGwenMarston.
Machinepiecingandquilting.
Commercialfabrics,cottonthread.
SusanaVizcarra
Uruguay/USA
BeneaththeSurface,2025
28H x 23W
ForestsareEarth’slifeblood.Evenpartial deforestationdisruptsecosystems,yetnature endures.Inthisquilt,treestumpsmarkloss,while butterflies,birds,androotssymbolizeresilience, lifepersistingthroughthequiet,interconnected strengthoftheforest.
Fabriccollage,applique,embroidery.
Dyed,bleachedandacrylicpaintedfabrics, repurposedfabrics,cottonthread,felt,andburlap fibers.
MyInnerSelf,2024
12H x 10W
SusanaVizcarra
MyInnerSelfreflectsthehiddenlayersofidentity andemotion.Fabricandthreadrevealinner landscapeswhereresilience,vitality,andreflection intertwine,invitingviewerstocontemplatethe shiftingbalancebetweenvulnerability,strength, andquietbeauty.
Applique,embroidery,coachingembroidery,and fabriccollage.
Repurposedfabricsandcottonthread.
Naturedeeplyinspiresme.Whenmyfirst dahliabloomed,itsunfoldingpetals burstingwithcolormovedmetorecreateit infabric.Throughraw-edgeappliquéand improvisationalquilting,Istitchedmylove forcolorandmygarden.
Rawedgeapplique,improvisational machinequilting.
Cottonfabricsandbatting.
Armadillosaremyprimarymotif,reflectingmy backgroundandtravels.Inspiredbyapainted rockIphotographedinBoliviain2000,this pieceevokesnostalgic,dreamlikememoriesof yearsexploringLatinAmericaandthe Caribbean,echoedinthesubtlequilting.
Handpiecing,handquilting,fusedappliquewith rawedgesewing.
Commercialcottonfabrics,rickrack,embroidery thread.
GayleWilliams USA
33H x 38W
In2016,Ibeganprintingmyownfabricdesigns withagelatinplate.Thosefirstimperfectpulls becamealessoninprocessandacceptance. Usingalltwelve,enhancedwithembroidery,I embracedimperfectionandcreativegrowth.
Handpiecing,handquilting,fabricprintingon gelatinplate.
Cottoncommercialfabric,textilepaints, commercialgelatinprintingplate.
