Meet the "Bad Girl" of the Quilt World
Marla Arna Jackson, is a self-taught fiber artist, painter, doll maker, indigo dyer, shibori dyer, portrait artist, seamstress, and now an author. She is a world-renowned visual narrative artist and quilter, and community-based visual art educator. Her works have been exhibited in more than 35 national and international venues, including The American Folk Art Museum and The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History, and Culture. One of her most famous works is part of the permanent collection at The Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum.
Show your support for Marla Quilts Inc by pre-ordering your Marla Arna Jackson prints and an autographed hardcover copy of Marla’s book “Sankofa: Lesson Learned”. A portion of the proceeds from every purchase is invested back into the community via arts-based educational programming at Marla Quilts Inc.
In 2018, Jackson received the “Anyone Can Fly” Annual Lifetime Achievement Award, given by Faith Ringgold. She was also nominated for the Martin Luther King, Jr. “Dream One” award by the Lawrence, Kansas, School District. Jackson’s narrative quilts are inspired by the oral histories of her ancestors and the Kansas region. Jackson is partners with The Freedom’s Frontier’s National Heritage Area. She has been featured in:
The Kansas Historical Society Quarterly, Threads of Faith MS Magazine, Speaking Out of Turn Magazine, Wild West Magazine, the Quilt Life Magazine, PBS programs both local and regionally syndicated, Lawrence Magazine, the Lawrence Journal World, the Lawrence Kansas Times, the University Daily Kansan, and many more.
