Martha Jones-Carter

Artist Statement

Martha Jones-Carter Artist Bio
I am from Richmond, Virginia, and grew up in Washington Park on the North Side. As a young girl, I have always been creative and loved making art projects. I received a B.A. in Graphic Design from Norfolk State University.

I can create whatever I visualize in any art medium. My creativity includes drawing, painting, clay sculpting, jewelry making, printmaking, pine-needle basket making, stained glass, doll making, quilting, and mixed-media art. These are some of the techniques I have learned over the years. When creating my art, I have always told stories about my cultural heritage.

Creating dolls and quilts accounts for most of the art pieces I have made to date. I am also an antique collector and show exhibitor of Historical Black Dolls and African American quilting traditions. I started a business named "Cultural Creations" in 1995, showcasing the history and stories of early African American Black Dolls and offering workshops to teach cloth dollmaking to children and adults at schools, museums, and other organizations.

I learned to sew by watching my mother and grandmother. I started quilting around 1997, and by 2001, I was teaching quilting workshops and curating community exhibitions for quilters. I also co-founded the Kuumba Afrikan Quilters Guild of Richmond, VA, with three friends in 2012. Our mission was to keep African American quilting traditions alive for future generations.
Some of the exhibits I curated reflected on today’s social awareness and on perspectives regarding the historical and cultural traditions of African Americans. Some of the exhibition themes were "Door of No Return," "Remembering Our Ancestors," and "Stop the Pain."
Today, in addition to exhibiting quilts, I’m focusing on the importance of preserving and documenting African American quilts made by community families. It’s a heartfelt effort to celebrate and safeguard our rich cultural history for future generations to cherish.

Martha Jones-Carteres-Carter