Enter Your Quilt for Display at Our Shows!
2023 FESTIVAL JUDGED SHOW
More than $52,000 in cash, non-purchase prizes in several categories. Registration is open NOW and the deadline to enter is May 25 at 1 pm CST.
Click the button to the left for all the info, rules, and entry form!
THE 2024 INTERNATIONAL QUILT FESTIVAL special exhibits LIST of themed entries
This annual competition features the best work from quilters all over the world. A panel of jurors reviews all entries, which are then pared down to a list of finalists.
The 2024 International Quilt Festival Judged Show
The International Quilt Festival Judged Show is a completely separate exhibit and process. Click on these links to enter the Judged Show. Questions? Contact Christa Parker at christap@quilts.com
Note: All quilts pictures are from the 2022 exhibits.
2024 Calls for Entry
International Quilt Festival/
LONG BEACH 2023
International Quilt Festival/
Houston 2023
Oak Leaf and Reel quilt from the International Quilt Festival Collection. Artist unknown.
50 YEARS OF GREAT QUILTS
START WORKING NOW ON A RED, WHITE, AND BLUE QUILT FOR FESTIVAL’S 50th ANNIVERSARY SHOW IN 2024!
The roots of International Quilt Festival began in 1974 when Founder Karey Bresenhan opened an antique store in Houston that soon became a quilt shop (Great Expectations Quilts). The next year, she held a “thank you” show, sale, and event for customers. Since then, over the years and at larger and larger venues, Festival has become the world’s greatest quilt show, sale, and Quiltmaking Academy, with tens of thousands of attendees coming from the U.S. and dozens of countries to Houston each fall to celebrate the artistry, creativity, and love of quilting.
In the past, we’ve marked important anniversaries with impressive red & white quilts and blue & white quilts, hanging dramatically from the ceiling of the George R. Brown Convention Center. For our 50th anniversary celebration in 2024, we’ll have an even more beautiful exhibit featuring…what else?…red, white, & blue quilts! Whether antique or contemporary, or Art, Traditional, or Modern in design, you can submit your quilt to be part of this once-in-a-lifetime exhibit!
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Shirt of His Back (55” x 65”) by Charlotte Beech
Celebrate Life
Sponsored by
Art is an excellent way to express feelings. For this exhibit, artists depicted how they, a family member, or a friend celebrated a loved one’s wedding, birth, birthday, or memorial. Colors, patterns, traditional blocks or abstract drawings can be combined or used alone to convey a variety of emotions from happy to sad. Share the emotional artist with others!
How to Enter Your Quilt:
• Limit to two (2) entries per person.
• There is an entry fee of $20 (USD) per quilt.
• Registration closes on April 24, 2024.
• Size requirement: minimum 24”, maximum 94” on a side.
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Vitality (45” X 51”) by Li Hui Yin
Hands All Around
Artists from all around the world incorporate influences from their own cultures into the design and technique of their quilts. This prestigious, long-running international showcase includes recent quilts by international artists who create works inspired by them.
How to Enter Your Quilt:
• Limit to two (2) entries per person.
• There is an entry fee of $20 (USD) per quilt.
• Registration closes on May 8, 2024.
• Size requirement: minimum 24”, maximum 94” on a side.
• The piece must be completed between 2021 and 2024.
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Garden Party (50” x 31”) by Judith Craddock
In Full Bloom
Just as quilters create beautiful pieces of art with fabric, florists and gardeners cultivate works of beauty from the soil. This exhibit showcases floral-inspired quilts from across the spectrum in lush color and splendor.
How to Enter Your Quilt:
• Limit to two (2) entries per person.
• There is an entry fee of $20 (USD) per quilt.
• Registration closes on May 29, 2024.
• Size requirement is minimum 24”, maximum 94” on any side.
• The piece must be completed between 2021 and 2024.
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Pickens Street (80” x 80”) by Bernadette Houghton.
In the American Tradition
Contemporary quiltmakers often look to the art form’s rich tradition and history for inspiration in their own works. This exhibit features recently made quilts that incorporate traditional blocks, styles, and/or techniques.
How to Enter Your Quilt:
• Limit to two (2) entries per person.
• There is an entry fee of $20 (USD) per quilt.
• Registration closes on May 15, 2024.
• Size requirement is minimum 36”, maximum 108” on any side.
• There is no made by date.
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Tennessee Autumn (42” x 54’) by Nancy Hershberger.
Landscape Quilts
From valleys and volcanoes to mountains to monuments, landscapes often inspire artists, including many in the quilt world. This expansive exhibit showcases many stunning geographical wonders.
How to Enter Your Quilt:
• Limit to two (2) entries per person.
• There is an entry fee of $20 (USD) per quilt.
• Registration closes on May 15, 2024.
• Size requirement: minimum 24”, maximum 94” on a side.
• The piece must be completed between 2021 and 2024.
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Happy Tree (68” x 68”) by Ichie Miyate
Save the Planet
Be the voice of change. Show your artistic vision that features subjects like climate change, pollution, natural disaster, and drought. Make people aware that we have to make changes for nature to co-exist with humans. All styles of quilts are welcome in this call.
How to Enter Your Quilt:
• Limit two (2) entries per person.
• There is an entry fee of $20 (USD).
• Registration closes on May 29,2024.
• Each work must measure a minimum of 24” on each side.
• The quilt can be NO LONGER than 94” ON A SIDE.
• There is no made by date.
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It's A Mad, Mad, Mid-Mod World (70” x 70”) by Julie Limbach Jones. Quilted by Matt Randall with members of South Bay Quilters Guild. Patterns by Carolyn Freidlander. Photographed by Bill Bohnhoff.
Tactile Architecture
Buildings have a long history of inspiring the creative designs of quiltmakers. In the 19th century, American quilters developed classic architectural patterns such as Log Cabin, Schoolhouse, and Brick Wall. This annual juried exhibit challenges quiltmakers to create works based on architectural themes and inspirations. The quilt may be Traditional, Modern, or Art.
How to Enter Your Quilt:
• Limit to two (2) entries per person.
• There is an entry fee of $20 (USD).
• Size requirement is minimum 24”, maximum 94” on any side.
• The piece must be completed between 2020 and 2024.
• The call closes on April 24, 2024.
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Turning Lemons into Lemonade by Sara Sharp
Text on Textiles
Words are a design element in many ways. Show us what you can do with words dyed, painted or pieced on a fabric. This exhibit showcases quilts in which words and fabric come together to form a unique statement. Let your voice be heard!
How to Enter Your Quilt:
• Limit two (2) entries per person.
• There is an entry fee of $20 (USD).
• Registration closes May 29, 2024.
• Each work must measure a minimum of 24” on each side.
• The quilt can be NO LONGER than 94” ON A SIDE.
• The piece must be completed between 2021 and 2024.
RULES >
PREVIEW SUBMISSION FORM >
ENTER >
Note: All quilts pictures are from the 2022 exhibits.
PROPOSE AN EXHIBIT
Special Exhibits welcomes queries from artists and curators about proposing exhibits for future shows throughout the year.
- We welcome proposals for 2024 and beyond.
- Once the proposal is complete, it will be submitted to a selection committee to be reviewed.
For further information, please email the Special Exhibits Manager, Christa Parker, at christap@quilts.com.