Biography
Kevin Womack is a textile artist living in Lynchburg, Virginia. While majoring in the sciences at James Madison University, he satisfied his strong interest in the arts by including several elective art courses as part of his studies. Kevin earned his bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and went to work in the IT field. He continued his artist pursuits, exploring photography, metals/jewelry, pottery and oil painting in community art classes.
In 1986, Kevin was introduced to quilting by his maternal grandmother. Having always loved the legacy of family quilts, he decided to have her teach him the tradition. While his interest in other media has waned, his passion for fiber has endured.
Kevin is passionate about hand dyeing and patterning fabrics with surface design techniques. His experiments produce a line of unique fabrics and clothing that he exhibits and sells.
Kevin’s artwork and quilts have been exhibited at several regional and national shows. His collaborative work with artist Eleanor McCain was selected for inclusion in the Quilt National ‘13 exhibition and Quilt Visions Biennial 2014. He was awarded Best in Show for his diptych, Equilibrium, in Quilts=Art=Quilts 2021 at the Schweinfurth Art Center in Auburn, NY. In addition to his fabric business, Kevin teaches and lectures nationally.
Statement
I intend to cause the viewer some discomfort but ultimately seek stability. Quilts evoke feelings of comfort, safety, home and family. Though my subject matter and imagery may explore hard edges or uncomfortable feelings, I aim to balance this through the use of soft media. I draw inspiration from personal experiences, and in particular, the city of New Orleans. Examining the "hard" allows me to search for softness and to eventually reach an equilibrium.
Being intrigued by surface design techniques, I am especially fond of making marks on cloth that show the hand of the artist. I often utilize Asemic writing – illegible text I create in pondering words related to the subject matter -- while I work. When printing, I produce cloth yardage designed to stand on its own as a whole. I sometimes chop up the yardage as I construct quilts. More recently, I have begun grouping large square or rectangular pieces of cloth to reveal a narrative. I am purposefully obscure, and wish to allow the viewer the opportunity to seek out their own story in my work.
Exhibitions
2024
“Sew to Speak” BlackRock Center for the Arts, Germantown, MD. March 9-April 21, 2024.
2023
“Reflections” VA/NC SAQA Regional Traveling Exhibit. August 1, 2023-December 31, 2025.
“No Boundaries” Virginia Quilt Museum, Harrisonburg, VA.
“Bower Center’s 3rd Biennial National Juried Fiber Arts Exhibition” Bower Center for the Arts, Bedford, VA.
“Smoky Mountain Quilter’s Quilt Show” Knoxville Expo Center, Knoxville, TN.
“2023 Form, Not Function: Quilt Art at the Carnegie” Carnegie Center for Art & History, New Albany, IN. Award of Excellence Presented by Louisville Area Fiber and Textile Artists
“Interwoven: The Many Voices of Fiber” Riffe Gallery, Columbus, OH.
“QuiltFest Greenville” Greenville Convention Center, Greenville, SC.
“Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival” Hampton Roads Convention Center, Hampton, VA.
2022
“Quilt Visions 2022” Visions Museum of Textile Art, San Diego, CA.
2021
“Threefold: The Art of the Triptych” online exhibit produced by the Mountain Art Quilters of Asheville, NC.
“Quilts=Art=Quilts 2021” Schweinfurth Art Center, Auburn, NY. Best in Show Award.
“2nd Biennial Fiber Arts National Juried Exhibition” Bower Center for the Arts, Bedford, VA.
“Art Quilts from Southwest Virginia” Fiber and Fabric Artists exhibit, Montgomery-Floyd Regional Library, Blacksburg, VA.
2020
“Found Again” Art Quilt Network Exhibit, Ohio Craft Museum, Columbus, OH
2019
“Pushing the Surface” Invitational Exhibit, Johnson-Humrickhouse Museum, Coshocton, OH
“30 Years of QSDS” Chaddock & Morrow Gallery, The Dairy Barn Arts Center, Athens, OH
2016
"Party On!" Richard M. Ross Museum, Delaware, OH
"Sew Far, Sew Good" Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival XXVII, Hampton, VA
"No Girls Allowed!" Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum, Golden, CO
2015
"Southern Rhythms at McKissick" McKissick Museum, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
"Quilt National 2013 - Traveling Collection C" European Patchwork Festival, St. Marie-aux-Mines, France
2014
"Quilt Visions 2014: The Sky's the Limit" Visions Art Museum, San Diego, CA
"Men Who Quilt" Virginia Quilt Museum, Harrisonburg, VA
"Quilt National 2013 - Traveling Collection C" Oceanside Museum of Art, Oceanside, CA
"Without A Word" Zanesville Museum of Art, Zanesville, OH
Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival XXV Hampton Roads Convention Center, Hampton, VA
"Quilt National 2013 - Traveling Collection C" Riffe Gallery, Columbus, OH
2013
"Quilt National 2013 - Traveling Collection C" Saint Louis University Museum of Art, St. Louis, MO
"Divergent Paths" Two-person exhibition at Lynchburg Art Club, Lynchburg, VA
"Quilt National 2013" The Dairy Barn Arts Center, Athens, OH
2012
Quilt Surface Design Symposium Fabric 2012, Columbus, OH
2010
Quilt Surface Design Symposium Fabric 2010, Columbus, OH
2009
Quilt Surface Design Symposium Fabric 2009, Columbus, OH. 4th Place Award
2008
Quilt Surface Design Symposium Fabric 2008, Columbus, OH. Honorable Mention
North Carolina Quilt Symposium 2008, Wilmington, NC. Best Use of Color Award and 2nd Place Award
Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival XIX Hampton Roads Convention Center, Hampton, VA
2007
Quilt Surface Design Symposium Fabric 2007, Columbus, OH. Honorable Mention
North Carolina Quilt Symposium 2007, Mars Hill, NC. 1st Place Award
Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival XVIII Hampton Roads Convention Center, Hampton, VA
Teaching Experience
2019
1) Floyd Quilt Guild, Floyd, VA. April 1, 2019, 10:00 am Color Theory Lecture.
2) Textile Artists of Virginia, Blacksburg, VA. April 2, 2019, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Gelli Plate Printing Workshop.
3) The Quilting Party, Blacksburg, VA. April 2, 2019, 7:00 pm Trunk Show Lecture.
4) Charlottesville Area Quilt Guild Quilt Show, Tandem Friends School, 279 Tandem Lane, Charlottesville, VA. April 6 & 7, 2019, Vendor.
5) LeTort Quilters of Carlisle, Carlisle, PA. April 15, 2019, 7:00pm Threads & Embellishments Lecture. April 16, 2019, 9:00am - 3:00pm Floral Tapestry Workshop.
6) Stone House Quilters, Manassas, VA. May 13-14, 2019. Trunk Show Lecture and Floral Tapestry Workshop.
7) Quilt Surface Design Symposium 2019, Columbus College of Art & Design, Columbus, OH. June 3-7, 2019, Dyes & Paints Workshop (5-day). June 8-9, 2019, Playing with Fabric Paints Workshop (2-day). Click the link below for more information: http://www.qsds.com/classesbysession2019.html
8) Mid-Appalachian Quilters, Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, PA. July 12-14, 2019, Parfait Dyeing Workshop (1 day), Soy Wax Batik Workshop (1 day), Floral Tapestry Workshop (1 day). http://maqonline.org/
9) Quilt National Summer Classes, Dairy Barn Arts Center, Athens, OH. July 29-31, 2019, Designing the Surface Workshop (3 days). Click the link below for more information: https://dairybarn.org/quilt-national-summer-classes/
10) Stitch Party Studio, Madison, NC. Aug. 10, 2019. One Block Wonder Workshop.
11) Baltimore Heritage Quilters Guild, Baltimore, MD. Sept. 21, 2019. Floral Tapestry Workshop.
12) Haymarket Quilters Unlimited, Haymarket, VA. November 8, 2019, Color Study Workshop.
13) Stitch Party Studio, Madison, NC. Nov. 16, 2019. One Block Wonder Workshop.
2020
1) Stone House Quilters, Manassas, VA. January 13-14, 2020. Color Theory Lecture and Floral Tapestry Workshop.
2) Star Quilters Guild, Roanoke, VA. March 2, 2020. Trunk Show Lecture.
3) *EVENT CANCELLED Asheville Quilt Guild, Asheville, NC. March 17-18, 2020. Trunk Show Lecture and Introduction to Printing with Spoonflower Workshop.
4) *EVENT POSTPONED Stitch Party Studio, Madison, NC. April 4, 2020. Hexagon One Block Wonder Workshop. New date TBD.
5) *EVENT CANCELLED Buchanan Trail Quilters, Waynesboro, PA. April 13-14, 2020. Trunk Show Lecture and Floral Tapestry Workshop.
6) *EVENT CANCELLED Art Quilt Network, Columbus, OH. April 15-18, 2020.
7) *EVENT CANCELLED SAQA Indiana, Peace Center, Camp Jameson, Indianapolis, IN. April 20-22, 2020. Lecture and two-day Paint/Print class.
8) *EVENT CANCELLED Quilt Surface Design Symposium (QSDS) 2020, Columbus College of Art & Design, Columbus, OH. May 30 - June 7, 2020. Printing Possibilities Workshop (2 days) and Dyeing & Surface Design Independent Study (7 days). http://www.qsds.com/classlist2020.html
9) *EVENT CANCELLED Mid-Appalachian Quilters, Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, PA. July 10-12, 2020. Parfait Dyeing Workshop (1 day), Soy Wax Batik Workshop (1 day), Color Cross Dyeing Workshop (1 day). http://maqonline.org/
10) *EVENT POSTPONED Heart of the Triad Quilt Guild, Winston-Salem, NC. August 3, 2020. Threads and Embellishments Lecture.
11) Stitch Party Studio, Madison, NC. August 8 or August 15, 2020. Hexagon One Block Wonder Workshop. Two separate classes to allow for social distancing.
12) The Quilt Show, Episode #2704. August 9, 2020. More info: TheQuiltShow.com
13) *EVENT CANCELLED Lake Quilters Guild, Smith Mountain Lake, VA. August 24-25, 2020. One Block Wonder Workshop, Threads & Embellishments Lecture.
14) Peaks & Pieces Quilt Guild, Bedford, VA. September 26, 2020. Floral Tapestry Workshop.
15) Stitch Party Studio, Madison, NC. Oct. 3, 2020. Hexagon One Block Wonder Workshop.
16) *EVENT CANCELLED Art Quilt Network, Minneapolis, MN. Oct. 8-11, 2020.
17) *EVENT CANCELLED Western NC Quilters Guild, Hendersonville, NC. October 15-16, 2020. Trunk Show Lecture and Color Study Workshop.
18) Gate City Quilt Guild, Greensboro, NC, November 5, 2020, 7:15pm. Online Trunk Show presentation.
19) Apple Valley Needle Threaders, Berryville, VA. November 12, 2020. Trunk Show Lecture.
20) Peaks & Pieces Quilt Guild, Bedford, VA. November 21, 2020, 9:30am - 4:30pm. One Block Wonder Workshop.
2021
1) Heart of the Triad Quilt Guild, Winston-Salem, NC. March 1, 2021. Threads and Embellishments Lecture.
2) Springfield Quilters Unlimited, Springfield, VA. March 16, 2021. Color Theory Lecture.
3) Studio Group, Scottsdale, AZ. March 28-30, 2021. Print & Play Workshop (3 days).
4) * EVENT CANCELLED Haymarket Quilters Unlimited, Haymarket, VA. April 8-9, 2021.
5) * EVENT CANCELLED Art Quilt Network, Columbus, OH. April 22-24, 2021. Spring retreat.
6) *EVENT CANCELLED Eternal Quilters, Millersville, MD. May 13, 2021. 10:00 am Lecture.
7) Friendship Quilters Guild, Linthicum, MD. May 13, 2021. 7:30 pm. Trunk Show Lecture via ZOOM.
8) Quilt Surface Design Symposium (QSDS) 2021. June 5 - June 13, 2021. Printing Possibilities (2 days), Color Explorations (5 days) and Surface Design Shuffle (2 days). All events via ZOOM. QSDS.com
9) SAQA Indiana. June 22, 2021, 3:00 pm. Playful Patterning with Fabric Paints Lecture via ZOOM.
10) * EVENT CANCELLED Mid-Appalachian Quilters, Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, PA. July 9-11, 2021. Parfait Dyeing Workshop (1 day), Soy Wax Batik Workshop (1 day), Color Cross Dyeing Workshop (1 day). MAQ Info
11) * EVENT CANCELLED Virginia Consortium of Quilters (VCQ), July 10, 2021. Playing with Fabric Paints Workshop via ZOOM. Register here: VCQ
12) Stitch Party Studio, Madison, NC. July 31, 2021. One-Block-Wonder workshop.
13) Stitch Party Studio, Madison, NC. August 28, 2021. Floral Tapestry workshop.
14) * EVENT CANCELLED Art Quilt Network, Columbus, OH. September 13-25, 2021.
15) Stitch Party Studio, Madison, NC. October 2, 2021. One-Block-Wonder workshop.
16) Stitch Party Studio, Madison, NC. October 29, 2021. Simply Stunning Stars workshop.
17) Studio Group, Scottsdale, AZ. November 13-15, 2021. Print & Play Workshop (3 days). November 18—20, 2021 Print & Play Workshop (3 days). Contact mchquilts@live.com to register.
2022
1) Golden Leaf Quilters Guild, South Boston, VA. February 8, 2022. Threads & Embellishments Lecture.
2) Stitch Party Studio, Madison, NC. February 19, 2022. Simply Stunning Stars workshop.
3) PAQA-South, Cary, NC. March 25-26, 2022. Surface Design Shuffle (2 days). Sign up here: Surface Design Shuffle - PAQA
4) Charlottesville Area Quilt Guild Quilt Show, Tandem Friends School, 279 Tandem Lane, Charlottesville, VA. April 9 & 10, 2022, Vendor.
5) Minnesota Contemporary Quilters, Minneapolis, MN. April 13, 2022. Gelatin Plate Printing Workshop via ZOOM.
6) Arlington Quilters Unlimited, Arlington, VA. May 9, 2022 - Zoom Trunk Show & May 14, 2022 - Surface Design Shuffle Workshop.
7) Springfield Quilters Unlimited, May 17, 2022. Trunk Show lecture and 3-hour Simply Stunning Stars Workshop.
8) Quilt Surface Design Symposium (QSDS), CCAD, Columbus, OH. May 30-June 3, 2022. Mark as Muse workshop (5 days). Register here: QSDS Classes
9) Quilt Surface Design Symposium (QSDS), CCAD, Columbus, OH. June 4-5, 2022. Surface Design Shuffle workshop (2 days). Register here: QSDS Classes
10) Mid-Appalachian Quilters, Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, PA. July 15-17, 2022. Color Cross Dyeing Workshop (1 day), Soy Wax Batik Workshop (1 day), Floral Tapestry Workshop (1 day). Register here: MAQ info
11) Stitch Party Studio, Madison, NC. August 6, 2022. Hexagon One Block Wonder Workshop.
12) Star Quilters Guild, Roanoke, VA. September 12, 2022. Threads & Embellishments Lecture.
13) Quilt Visions 2022, Visions Art Museum, San Diego, CA. October 15-17, 2022.
14) Art Quilt Network, Columbus, OH. November 3-5, 2022.
2023
1) Road to California 2023, Ontario, CA. January 16-20, 2023. Playing with Fabric Paints (2 days), Adventures in Gelli Plate Printing (1 day), Soy Wax Batik (2 days).
2) Minnesota Contemporary Quilters, Minneapolis, MN. January 23, 2023. Trunk Show Lecture via ZOOM.
3) AQS Quilt Week - Paducah, Schroeder Expo Center, Paducah, KY. April 26-29, 2023. Simply Stunning Stars Workshop, Floral Tapestry Workshop, Surface Design Shuffle Workshop, Color Theory 101 Lecture.
4) Quilt Surface Design Symposium (QSDS), CCAD, Columbus, OH. Print & Play dye workshop (5 days) June 5-9, 2023. Printing Possibilities silkscreen workshop (2 days), June 10-11, 2023. Register here: QSDS Classes
5) Mid-Appalachian Quilters, Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, PA. July 14-16, 2023. Parfait Dyeing Workshop (1 day), Soy Wax Batik Workshop (1 day), Playing with Fabric Paints Workshop (1 day).
6) Quilter’s Guild of Indianapolis, via ZOOM. Trunk Show Lecture at 7pm, August 10, 2023. Simply Stunning Stars Workshop on August 12, 2023.
7) Stitch Party Studio, Madison, NC. August 19, 2023. One Block Wonder Hexagon Workshop.
8) Randolph Quilters Guild, Asheboro, NC. September 7, 2023. Color Theory 101 Lecture.
9) Calico Cutters Quilt Guild, West Chester, PA. September 13 & 14, 2023. Color Theory 101 Lecture and Gelli Plate Printing Workshop.
10) Art Quilt Network, Columbus, OH. September 21-23, 2023.
Publications
Quilt Visions 2022, Visions Museum of Textile Art
SAQA Journal, Volume 31, No. 2, 2021. Artist profile.
Quilt Visions 2014, The Sky's The Limit, Visions Art Museum
Quilt National 2013, Dragon Threads
Ricky Tims Kool Kaleidoscope (DVD), Autumn Rock Media Productions
Media Appearances
Meet the Artists | Stephanie Shore, Phil Jones, and Kevin Womack, Visions Museum of Textile Art YouTube Channel, 2022
QAQ 2021 Artist Talks: Kevin Womack, Schweinfurth Art Center YouTube Channel, 2021
The Quilt Show with Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims (Show #2704), 2020
Studio Art Quilt Associates VA/NC Regional Blog, 2015
Groups and Associations
Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA)
Art Quilt Network (AQN)