ABOVE: Stitched Lives: Women, Materialism and the Art of the Handmade Anitha N Reddy in front of a quilt made in collaboration with the Siddi women from Karnataka, India.
By Patricia Belyea
BIRMINGHAM UK I’m giving you just a peek into three of the twelve Textile Galleries featured at the 2025 Festival of Quilts. Every single one was remarkable—but here are a few that especially caught my eye:
Pat Pauly
Pieces and Resistance
Pat creates her own hand-printed fabrics, which she transforms into bold, graphic quilt compositions. With their abstract, painterly vibe, these works push the boundaries of what a quilt can be. Each one is pieced and wildly stitched by machine.
Galla GrottoWomen’s Encyclopaedia
Originally from Russia and now based in France, Galla Grotto brings a playful, cubist energy to her textile portraits. Her work reimagines cultural icons and myths with a touch of whimsy and sharp design style.
Sara ImpeyContext
A former journalist, Sara uses the power of language in her intricate stitched narratives. Her quilts draw you in with layered text and meticulous detail, inviting both close reading and deeper reflection.
Postscript: After leaving Birmingham, I traveled to Edinburgh to visit Lesley Knox. There, in her dining room, hung a work by Sara Impey. Clearly, I was in the right place!
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ABOUT US: Okan Arts, a petite family business, is co-owned by mother-daughter duo Patricia Belyea and Victoria Stone. Patricia and Victoria import vintage Japanese textiles, host in-person and online creative quilting experiences, and lead textile tours to Japan.
FOLLOW OKAN ARTS ON INSTAGRAM @okanarts
