Rob Culpepper — Photography

The Quilters of Gee’s Bend. For the final post in this series, here is Andrea Pettway with her quilt. Andrea told us that she usually quilts with old denim. One of the coolest parts of the project was seeing how these artists adapted their styles to the Dedar fabric. I think this is a particularly beautiful example. Like the others, this quilt is on display at the Venice Biennale of Architecture through November. #uspavilion2025 #geesbend

The Quilters of Gee’s Bend. This quilt was made by Emma Mooney Pettway for the US Pavilion at the Venice Biennale. Fabric is by Dedar Milan. #uspavilion2025 #geesbend

The Quilters of Gee’s Bend. This is Jennifer Williams, displaying quilt made by her mother, Sharon Williams. We photographed Jennifer at the end of this idyllic road in Boykin with cows munching pasture grass just behind where I stood photographing her. #uspavilion2025 #geesbend

The Quilters of Gee’s Bend. This is Lua Ida McCloud on her front porch in Boykin, AL. The American Pavilion at the Venice Bienniale is all about The Porch as a place of gathering, welcoming, and, in the case of these women, quilting. #venicebiennale #uspavilion2025 #geesbend

The Quilters of Gee’s Bend. This is Mary Margaret Pettway working the edge of her quilt in the dogtrot at the old Gee’s Bend ferry port. The image above in the third photo is credited to Edith Morgan, circa 1900 (thanks to @carynorton and @jaredragland for the detective work). Mary Margaret’s quilt is currently on display at the American Pavilion at the 2025 Venice Biennale of Architecture. #venicebiennale #uspavilion2025 #geesbend

The Quilters of Gee’s Bend. This is Dorris Pettway’s quilt, also made with Dedar fabric and in collaboration with Stephen Burks Man Made. The second frame is Dorris, working on her quilt at the Gee’s Bend museum which is located in the old ferry port. This quilt is currently on display at the American Pavilion at the 2025 Venice Biennale of Architecture. #venicebiennale #uspavilion2025 #geesbend