JoeAnn Pettway West
Ms. JoeAnn Pettway West describes quilting as her “therapy.” When she quilts, she enters a focused space where memories, emotion, and creativity come together in the fabric. She draws inspiration from the many women who shaped her life, including her grandmother Candis, her mother Qunnie, her sister Loretta, and her aunts.
Raised in Gee’s Bend, Alabama, Ms. JoeAnn grew up surrounded by family, tradition, and the love of a close-knit community. Those influences continue to guide her work today. Her quilts reflect the distinctive Gee’s Bend aesthetic while also carrying her personal voice—simple in form, yet layered in meaning and complexity. Through her work, she honors the women before her and offers inspiration to the next generation of quiltmakers.