The concept of the art quilt has undergone a dynamic redefinition, liberating it from traditional constraints and inviting exploration into diverse forms of layered and stitched structures, in two or three dimensions. Gone are the days of rigid expectations, where an art quilt was confined to a specific composition with a batting core, meticulously crafted front and back, with a standardized sleeve for hanging. Celebrate your innovative spirit by pushing the envelope of what an art quilt can be.
THIS CALL IS FOR AN ONLINE GALLERY
- Open to all SAQA members
- No entry fee (up to 3 entries per artist)
- No size restrictions
- Eligible work must have been completed after August 1, 2022.
Because this is a virtual exhibition, it is critical that submitted images be of the best possible quality: in focus, with clear details, and following SAQA's digital image requirements. Please read Virtual Gallery Submission Guidelines for more details. If you have any questions, please contact us at calls@saqa.art.
Common image errors include:
- Images that are out of focus or too small,
- Cropping images too closely on the full-view image. All edges of the artwork must be visible along with a small amount of contrasting background.
- Distracting elements in the image background - we don't want to see design walls, rugs, your studio, hanging clips, hands, pins, etc.
Don't miss this! We have prepared a handy resource of Tips for Successful Art Quilt Photography.
Claire Passmore is a British born textile artist currently living in Mauritius. From her first career as a teacher, she re-learned to think, the way children often do, that ‘almost anything is possible’. Over the past 15 years she has developed a studio practice creating art quilts in 2 and 3 dimensions.
Relocating to a new home every few years, Passmore takes inspiration from each of the places she lives. Strong colour, line, and texture feature strongly in her work.
Passmore’s art is in both private and museum collections and is exhibited in galleries, museums and other interesting venues all over the world. She was especially delighted to have a very personal piece included in the 8th European Quilt Triennial in 2021. She is a member of the Fiberarts Guild of Pittsburgh and was the host for the first ever Fiberart Forum Online 2022 event. Passmore is also a Juried Artist member of SAQA, and serves on their Board of Directors.
This Virtual Gallery was originally proposed by Anna Wagner-Ott who passed away in December. 
Anna Wagner-Ott, born in England and raised in Toronto, had an extensive and distinguished background in art. She pursued her artistic education at the University of Alberta and the University of Toronto, culminating in a Ph.D. in Art Education from Penn State University. From 2000 to 2013, she was a tenured professor at California State University in Sacramento.
Wagner-Ott's work was deeply rooted in her passion for both traditional and contemporary textiles. Since the 1970s, feminist theories have profoundly influenced her artistic journey. Her intricate textile assemblages explore themes of memory, truth, fragility, boundaries, and the longing for freedom.
Since the 1980s, Wagner-Ott has exhibited her textile-based artworks widely in solo and juried exhibitions across Central and Eastern Canada, New York, and Sacramento. Her pieces are also part of numerous private collections in Canada and abroad.
- August 1, 2025 - Online Entry Opens
- August 31, 2025 - Online Entry Deadline at 7pm Eastern Time (GMT/UTC-4: New York time)
- October 15, 2025 - Notification of Acceptance via email
- November 1, 2025 - Online Gallery opens
