Becky McNeill is a self-taught, modern quilt artist who currently lives and works in Corning, New York. Formerly of North Carolina and a native of Indiana, she learned the art of traditional quilting as a child, but knew, even at an early age, that the rules and repetition in the traditional aesthetic did not speak to her creative spirit. Part of the modern quilt movement, her improvisational designs and vibrant color palettes create bold geometric patterns and abstract, pixelated compositions. Her works often carry aspirational social messages that challenge the viewer to strive for a higher ideal in keeping with the values she holds most dear: nurturing, connecting, and protecting. McNeill uses her work to craft stories in fabric. These stories can be read as a book, often conveying messages about social justice, climate change, community, wellness, or current events.
McNeill’s work has been shown in a variety of exhibitions such as The Modern Quilt Guild’s QuiltCon, The North Carolina Quilt Symposium, 171 Cedar Arts Center’s Mosaic Art Exhibit, Collar Works’ Flat Files program, Sacred Threads’ traveling exhibition “Backyard Escapes,” State of the Art Gallery’s December juried show, and the North Carolina State Fair and in publications such as Curated Quilts and Fat Quarterly digital magazine. She was awarded the Evelyn Peeler Peacock Gallery’s Emerging Artist solo show for the Spring of 2022. She is a member of the ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes, the Tri-County Arts Council, the Tioga Arts Council, and Studio Art Quilts Associates, has served on the Executive Board of the Triangle Modern Quilt Guild, and teaches a variety of classes in modern quilting at 171 Cedar Arts Center in Corning and in guilds/conferences around the country.
Becky McNeill is available to teach for your guild, club, quilt show, or other organization. A sample of her class offerings is listed below. For current scheduling and contract information please email beckymcneillartanddesign@gmail.com
Trunk Shows
1 hour plus Q&A, unlimited attendees
- Elements of Modern Quilts
- Developing and Defining My Personal “Style”
- Creating Collections: From Research to Exhibition
Half Day Workshops
4 hours, 20 participants, additional charge for extra participants up to 30
- Basic Techniques: Improv Strips and Squares
- Basic Techniques: Simple Improv Curves
- Basic Techniques: Improv Triangle Variety
Full Day Workshops
6 hours with 1 hour lunch break, 20 participants
- Pixelated Pictures - Representational Abstracts with Improv Strip Piecing (Intermediate to Advanced)
