Gee’s Bend quilter receives $100,000 craft award

A renowned Gee’s Bend quilter has been honored with a prestigious $100,000 grant, recognizing her visionary contributions to traditional craft. Loretta Pettway Bennett is one of five recipients of the 2026 Maxwell/Hanrahan Awards in Craft, a program administered by United States Artists and supported by the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation.

Honoring a Unique Vision

Since 2018, the foundation has awarded up to $500,000 annually to celebrate artists who display a unique approach to material-based practice and cultural stewardship. The 2026 cohort includes multimedia artist Hong Kong, weaver Melissa Cody, and sculptors Paul Andrew Wandless and Roberto Benavidez.

The Gee’s Bend quilting tradition continues to gain global acclaim, bridging the gap between folk and fine art. Bennett, a standout in the craft, was even named one of Southern Living’s “Southerners of the Year” in 2023.

Returning to Her Roots

Born and raised in the Wilcox County community of Gee’s Bend, Bennett learned the art of quilting from her mother, Quinnie Pettway, and other community elders. Although her husband’s military career led her to live abroad, she eventually returned to Alabama to immerse herself once again in the traditions of her childhood home. Today, she resides in the Huntsville area but makes frequent trips back to Gee’s Bend.

In a recent conversation with 205focus.com, Bennett expressed her shock and gratitude upon learning she had received the unrestricted grant. She views the award not just as personal recognition, but as a resource to help preserve the craft.

“It can allow me to go into schools, hopefully, and teach or demonstrate this craft,” Bennett said. “At one time it seemed like it was becoming a dying art. No one was sewing. Everything was so easy to buy.”

Finding Stillness in the Craft

Bennett believes that the meditative process of quilting—which involves deep concentration and repetition—offers a powerful antidote to modern stress. She notes that over the last decade, she has seen a resurgence in interest among younger generations. “I really think that if more people got into that, it would be a far better world,” she explained.

Despite traveling and seeing various art styles across the globe, Bennett remains deeply connected to the distinct style of her home. “When I start making my quilt, I dump it all,” she said of her outside influences. “I don’t try to bring it up and put it in my work. I just dump it all and I just do what I do.”

Looking ahead, Bennett plans to use this new platform to invite more people to experience the unique, quiet beauty of Gee’s Bend. “It’s one of those unique hidden treasures, that you don’t have to travel too far to find it. It’s here in Alabama,” she said. “With this award, I can come here, and people can come here, and hopefully they can experience what I experience.”