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Now in its 18th year, this annual juried exhibition showcases nearly 60 fiber artists from 22 states, presenting original works that honor the legacies of African American ancestors. Rooted in African traditions of ancestor reverence and carried through the African Diaspora, these works celebrate lineage, resilience, and the enduring influence of those who came before us.
This year’s theme pays tribute to the known and unknown figures of the Diaspora whose lives, sacrifices, and dreams shaped our present. The artists draw inspiration both from celebrated African American historical figures and from the intimate histories of their own families, using fiber as a medium to preserve memory and amplify ancestral voices.
Created and curated by award-winning textile artist Torreah “Cookie” Washington, In Praise of the Ancestors highlights the innovation and creativity of African American fiber artists. From quilts to mixed-media pieces, the exhibition blends traditional and contemporary techniques to create visual narratives that are at once personal and universal. Several quilts included in this exhibition have traveled to Brookgreen Gardens from across the country, underscoring the national scope and significance of this gathering of work.
In Praise of the Ancestors is more than an exhibition—it is a call to remember, to honor, and to carry forward the strength, prayers, and hopes of generations past.
About the Curator
Torreah “Cookie” Washington is a fourth-generation needleworker and Charleston-based fiber artist known for her narrative art quilts that honor the Divine Feminine and African ancestral heritage. Born in Rabat, Morocco, and self-taught in quilting, she carries forward the legacy of the women in her family—seamstresses, designers, and tailors—while forging her own path in textile-based art.
For over 16 years, she has curated the African American Fiber Arts Exhibit for the North Charleston Arts Festival, helping the exhibition grow into a traveling showcase across the South. Cookie’s work is griot in spirit, using fabric, form, and storytelling to inspire emotional connection, cultural reflection, and social dialogue. She also teaches in underserved communities, gives school lectures, and donates quilts to support the unhoused.
One of her proudest honors was being chosen as one of 44 Master Art Quilters to create a quilt in celebration of President Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration. Her work has been featured in several documentaries, including Skin Quilt and The Wayshowers, for which she served as executive producer.