March 23 – April 25, 2026
Entry Deadline: October 16 · Entry Information
Davenport Gallery, Ethel Sergeant Clark Smith Gallery
Art Quilt Elements 2026 is the 17th biennial exhibition of this internationally acclaimed show, unique for its professional presentation of contemporary fine art quilts. The exhibition has been widely praised by reviewers and artists not only for the presentation of the work, but also for the commitment to promoting the art quilt as a fine art form.
Jurors: Toni Kersey, Karl Reichert and Danielle Williams
ABOUT WAYNE ART CENTER AND ART QUILT ELEMENTS (AQE):
Founded in 1931, Wayne Art Center has been continuously serving the cultural needs of the community for all ages and abilities. Dedicated to enriching the community through the arts, Wayne Art Center’s mission is to afford artists and the broader community an interdisciplinary venue to explore, share and learn, while fostering a sense of community through arts education and appreciation.
Wayne Art Center’s spacious and exquisitely designed exhibition galleries are recognized as the finest in the country. Through an active and diverse schedule of exhibitions of local, regional, national and international artists, the Center is considered one of the few venues that features a diverse and innovative display of contemporary art quilts.
Art Quilt Elements (AQE), the Juried International Exhibition of Contemporary Art Quilts (established in 2008), continues to expand the boundaries of quilt making, showcasing a range of techniques that communicates a unique vision and storytelling through a variety of hand and machine quilt making methods. Wayne Art Center is grateful to the many jurors, artists, sponsors and patrons who have endorsed and supported this eagerly anticipated biennial exhibition over the years.
ABOUT THE CALL FOR ENTRY:
Wayne Art Center seeks submissions for Art Quilt Elements 2026, an international juried group exhibition of contemporary fine art quilts. Selected works will be on display in both the Davenport and Ethel Sergeant Clark Smith Galleries of Wayne Art Center in Wayne, Pennsylvania from March 23 through April 25, 2026. For more information about AQE 2026 visit: www.artquiltelements.org.
Nancy Campbell
Executive Director and Chief Curator
Director, AQE
Pam McLean Parker
Exhibition Coordinator
Karen Louise Fay
Director of Marketing and Events
AQE 2026 Committee
Libby Cerullo
Susan Leonard
Rosemary McBride
ABOUT THE JURORS:
Toni Kersey
Toni Kersey is an award-winning mixed-media fiber artist living and working in Springfield, Pennsylvania. Her background as a graphic designer informs her work. She received her degree in graphic design from the University of Illinois and began designing and making quilts in 2005 after studying fabric painting techniques. A self-taught quilter, she has concentrated on developing a creative language that fuses African American improvisational quilt making with painterly abstraction. Kersey’s work is focused on narratives that use visual rhythm and movement to explore the shared cultural experiences of the African Diaspora. Her quilts have been exhibited nationally and internationally, most notably as part of the “Art in the Embassies” program. She explores cultural relationships combining Dutch wax and African fabric with hand-dyed and painted textiles, embroidery and beading. Her work has been included in publications such as Artistry in Fiber Volume 1 and most recently in the fall 2024 Surface Design Journal.
Karl Reichert
Karl Reichert serves as the Executive Director for Textile Center, a national center for fiber art based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. A seasoned arts executive, he joined Textile Center in 2014 and has led the organization through an exciting decade of programmatic growth. With its mission to “honor textile traditions, promote excellence and innovation, nurture appreciation, and inspire widespread appreciation in fiber art” Textile Center’s programming includes year-round fiber art exhibitions, classes, and retail sales. The Textile Center Library is among the nation’s largest circulating libraries dedicated to textiles and fiber art, with over 35,000 books and periodicals. Reichert served as a juror for the Visions Museum of Textile Art’s Quilt Visions 2024 exhibition in San Diego, California, and he looks forward to serving as a juror for Art Quilt Elements 2026 at Wayne Art Center.
Danielle Williams
Danielle Williams was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. Today, she resides in sunny Southern California, with her husband and their growing family. Since 2012, Williams has worked for Stampington & Company in various editorial roles, including managing the magazine Art Quilting Studio. She comes from a family of creatives and loves immersing herself in the quilting world.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: