Meet The Artist

“When I view one of her pieces I am taken aback – similar to the way a great jazz tune moves beyond category and registers in your spiritual subconscious.” 

—Samuel W. Black, Curator of African American Collections at the Senator John Heinz History Center


Tina Williams Brewer was born in 1949 in Huntington, West Virginia and currently lives and works in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Columbus College of Art and Design with a Bachelor of Arts and has been creating art for more than forty years.

Known for her story quilts, Williams Brewer uses symbolism, textile, and fabrics to explore African-American history, generational healing, and the spirituality of her culture. Speaking of her work, Williams Brewer states, “through my work I tell a story, carrying messages from ancestors. My work is a celebration of the profound joy of gathering with loved ones and the strength of spiritual connections. It is an expression of the deep pain of racism and the pathways forward, the resilience of African American families and the light that lifts them up. My intention is to give dignity to human suffering, finding rhythms that are both mind-stirring and soul-soothing.” Williams Brewer’s pieces are primarily hand-quilted and collage mixed-mediums including photo transfers, printmaking, and hand-beading. Each piece is embellished with symbols drawn from African nations and rich colorful fabrics with patterns that allude to both cultural meanings and personal history. Her process creates complex, layered compositions that function as maps investigating her heritage, the African diaspora, and the links between past, present, and future.

Tina Williams Brewer’s work has been widely displayed both locally and internationally including exhibitions at the United States Embassy in Ghana and the American Craft Museum in New York City. Her work has been recognized by the American Arts in Embassy Program for more than twenty years, and she is the recipient of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Governor’s Awards for the Arts. Her work is held in the permanent collections of the Westmoreland Museum of American Art, The State Museum of Pennsylvania, and The African American Museum of Dallas. Recent exhibitions include 1-54 Contemporary Art Fair, NYC, chosen by Omar Berrada, EXPO Chicago Curated Selection by Eric Shiner, Christies, Rockefeller Plaza, NYC, “Knotted Ties”, DeBuck Gallery NYC, “Threaded Memories” and Untitled Art Fair, Miami Beach, 2021, chosen by Natasha Becker, Curator, DeYoung Museum, San Francisco, CA.

Interviews and Media

For over 40 years, Tina Williams Brewer has created quilts that tell stories of vision and grace. A native of West Virginia, she draws on the rich Southern tradition of quilting, synthesizing her personal experiences with historical realities. Her work incorporates unique fabrics and inspirations drawn from her travels, including time spent at St. Helena Island in South Carolina. The resulting vibrant, hand-stitched quilts explore themes relating to African diasporic history, spirituality, migration, and shared heritage. This film was made possible by support from the Arts, Equity, & Education Fund and a grant from the Coastal Carolina Community Foundation at the request of CMA member Bonnie Adams Kapp.

Tugging On Threads – Columbia Museum of Art 2023

Tina Williams Brewer weaves ideas related to African diasporic history, spirituality, migration, and shared heritage into vibrant, hand-stitched quilts. Today’s episode explores her exhibition Tina Williams Brewer: Stories of Grace. Ray sits down with exhibition curator Michael Neumeister to talk about creating this exhibition and what makes Brewer’s work stand out among quilters today. Later, producer Drew chats with the artist to learn about why gathering community lore is so important to her process.

Tina Williams Brewer, Master Visual Artist 2013

Tina Williams Brewer is a fiber artist widely recognized for her story quilts. Her pieces are inspired by African and African American spirituality and history. She has been an educator and exhibiting artist for more than 30 years