About Hallie O’Kelley:

Hallie is a renowned screen print and fiber artist who was born in Iowa and moved to Tuscaloosa in 1951 when her husband, a biology professor, accepted a position at The University of Alabama. In 1983, O’Kelley began making 220 screenprinted, tri-colored posters featuring a quilt design to sell at the Kentuck Festival of the Arts. In 1994, Kentuck’s Executive Director encouraged O’Kelley to create a physical, fabric quilt.

 

She begins with white fabric, dyes and silkscreens her design, and then hand stitches each part of the quilt. The quilt symbolizes the creativity, high quality craftsmanship, and Southern folk tradition celebrated at the annual Kentuck Festival of the Arts. Each quilt design is weaved into the identity of each year’s festival, and together, they represent a quilted timeline of Kentuck’s history.

 

Hallie is a published author and has been honored for her contribution to the arts in West Alabama with a permanent installation of one of her quilt designs in Bicentennial Plaza in downtown Tuscaloosa. Her work has been exhibited internationally and resides in the permanent collections of several museums throughout the country.