Gee’s Bend quilter receives $100,000 craft award
Similar to the MacArthur Foundation's "genius grants," the awards are intended to give artists the freedom to continue their work and to tackle bigger projects.
Liam Carter 
A renowned Gee’s Bend quilter has been honored with a prestigious $100,000 grant, recognizing her visionary contribution to traditional crafts.
Loretta Pettway Bennett is one of five recipients of the 2026 Maxwell/Hanrahan Awards in Craft. The initiative, facilitated by the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation and managed by United States Artists, provides unrestricted funding to help artists expand their creative impact and preserve vital cultural traditions.
The celebrated quilting tradition of Gee’s Bend continues to blur the lines between folk and fine art. Bennett, who was named a 2023 "Southerner of the Year" by Southern Living, remains a pillar of this storied Wilcox County community. Though she now lives in the Huntsville area, her connection to her roots remains unshakable.
A Legacy of Craft
Growing up in Gee’s Bend, Bennett learned the art of quilting from her mother, Quinnie Pettway, and other community elders. Following a life of travel, she returned to Alabama to deepen her work in the tradition that defines her home. When reflecting on the surprise of receiving the $100,000 grant, Bennett expressed her humility: "I’m shocked. But I’m honored to be one of the awardees. I’m so honored and it’s a privilege to be selected."
Looking Ahead
Bennett hopes to use this financial freedom to share her craft with the next generation. "It can allow me to go into schools, hopefully, and teach or demonstrate this craft," she explained. She noted that after a period where the art form seemed to be fading, she has witnessed a resurgence in interest among younger people seeking a creative outlet for the stresses of modern life.
While her travels have exposed her to diverse artistic styles across the globe, Bennett finds that her most authentic work happens when she returns to Gee’s Bend. "When I start making my quilt, I dump it all," she said. "I just do what I do."
For Bennett, the value of the award lies in its ability to bring more people to the place she loves. "With this award, I can come here, and people can come here, and hopefully they can experience what I experience," she said. "I can make that possible now."
