FREE ART CONSULTATION
About Us Contact Us
      Preview AR preview Switch to Print Switch to Digital Image Send
      Details Guide Add to favorites Download Similars X-Ray Diaporama Stats
      Mary Lee Bendolph

      Work-clothes quilt

      Read More

      Explore the vibrant quilts of Mary Lee Bendolph, a leading artist from Gee's Bend, Alabama. Known for improvisational designs using repurposed fabrics, her work blends tradition, storytelling & abstract art.
      Read More

      The artwork displayed on this page is protected by copyright law, which means we cannot legally create or sell an identical reproduction. This protection is enforced under international agreements such as the Berne Convention and by national laws, including those outlined by the U.S. Copyright Law - Title 17.

      As a respectful and legal alternative, we offer custom, hand-painted artworks inspired by the original. Our skilled and professional artists carefully study the original's style, mood, and artistic essence to create a new, unique piece that evokes the same feeling - while remaining an original creation in its own right.

      This method fully complies with copyright regulations because it does not involve copying or duplicating the protected artwork. Instead, it is a creative reinterpretation - a new painting that is influenced by the original but not identical to it.

      Read more

      Hand Made Oil Reproduction

      Hand-painted oil on canvas in your size and frame, made to order by our artists. ( Switch to Print Switch to Digital Image)

      Standard
      custom
      CM
      INCH

      Pick from our preset sizes that match the artwork's original proportions.

      width
      height

      Type the width and the height you need, to fit your frame or your wall. This is hand-painted, so for a size with a different shape the artist can paint a bit more around the picture, or cut a bit — you choose. We send you a digital mockup to approve before the painting starts. The picture shown on this page does not show the real result — only the mockup does.

      Read more

      Examples of what can be changed: Replace face with customer photo; Add pet (e.g., replace cat with dog); Include hidden message in background; Change background landscape or elements.
      After order, OriginalUniqueArt.com team will email client for instructions and provide a mockup preview
      Read more

      Read more

      Read more

      Read more

      Worldwide Delivery () in 3/4 weeks instead of standard 5 weeks. (22 October). No compromise on quality.

      Read more

      Free Worldwide Express Shipping
      High-Quality Linen Canvas
      Full Shipping Insurance
      Customs Tax Refund Guarantee
      True Color Matching Guarantee
      100-Day Return Policy (Defects Only)
      100% Money-Back Guarantee
      Bulk Discount Offer
      Read more

      Total Price

      $ 300

      Work-clothes quilt

      Reproduction Medium

      Reproduction Size

      -

      Total Price

      $ 300

      Until the middle of the twentieth century, most of the quilts in Gee’s Bend were made from work clothes, which, in the rural South, were simply the clothes that everyone wore nearly every day. When other fabrics became available, many women felt relief over no longer needing to wrestle these thicker and tougher materials into their patterns. Others, like Bendolph, did not mind the challenge and appreciated the meanings encoded within the old-style remnants of heavier cotton, wool, and denim. For Bendolph, in particular, the transformation of old and worn fabrics into beautiful and comforting quilts became a metaphor for surviving hard times. According to her, “They remind you of where you have been and where the Lord have brought you from.”Throughout the lexicon of African American vernacular culture, castaway objects are often used to reaffirm life, as the reinvestment of creative energy in old and outworn things suggests the possibility of turning adversity into spiritual triumph and of redeeming the socially dispossessed or human castaways of the world. The tradition of the work-clothes quilt, perpetuated by Bendolph in many of her pieces, is part of that practice. Although her contemporary patchworks are no longer made from the pathos-ridden overalls of earlier times, her recycled-denim quilts continue to evoke the same notions of loss and redemption, despair and deliverance. In an especially intriguing example from 2002, Bendolph created a brooding patchwork composed almost entirely of worn blue jean scraps. But here and there within the dark, heavy field are passages of brilliant red. Even more paradoxical is the appearance of a few other squares of cloth printed with a delicate pink flower pattern—a symbol of regeneration.

      Questions & Answers

      What is the dominant color of "Work-clothes quilt" by Mary Lee Bendolph?

      The color that stands out most in "Work-clothes quilt" is white (#fcfcfc). The dominant color is useful when matching an artwork to an interior.

      Is there a slideshow for "Work-clothes quilt" by Mary Lee Bendolph?

      A slideshow is available: the Diaporama page of "Work-clothes quilt" by Mary Lee Bendolph.

      Who sells hand-painted copies of "Work-clothes quilt" by Mary Lee Bendolph?

      You can order a hand-painted reproduction of "Work-clothes quilt" by Mary Lee Bendolph directly on its Hand-Painted Reproduction page: a hand-painted oil reproduction on linen canvas, made to order.

      Artist Biography

      **early life and inspiration**

      mary lee bendolph, an american quilt maker, was born in 1935 in gee's bend (boykin), alabama. growing up in a community known for its rich textile traditions, bendolph developed a deep appreciation for the art of quilting. her work is characterized by the use of fabric from used clothing, which she sees as a way to honor the "love and spirit" embodied in old cloth.

      **artistic contributions and influences**

      bendolph's quilts have been influential on subsequent quilters and artists, with her work exhibited in museums and galleries across the united states. notably, her pieces have been featured at the philadelphia museum of art and the minneapolis institute of art in minnesota. in 1999, she was highlighted in the pulitzer prize-winning article "crossing over," which explored efforts to reestablish ferry service across the alabama river.

      **key works and exhibitions**

      - **untitled (quilt)**: a seminal piece showcasing bendolph's use of repurposed fabric, now part of a private collection. - **quilts from gee's bend**: an exhibition at the OriginalUniqueArt gallery, celebrating the collective's contributions to american textile art.

      **legacy and impact**

      through her innovative approach to quilting, mary lee bendolph has not only preserved the traditions of gee's bend but also inspired a new generation of artists. her dedication to honoring the stories and emotions embedded in used fabric has elevated the medium, positioning it as a powerful tool for storytelling and community building.

      **further reading**

      - for a deeper dive into the world of quilting and its cultural significance, visit the art of tapestry: a journey through time and culture on OriginalUniqueArt. - explore the birmingham museum of art, a hidden gem in alabama, featuring an impressive collection of over 27,000 works of art, at the birmingham museum of art (united states) - a hidden gem.
      Mary Lee Bendolph

      Mary Lee Bendolph

      1935 - , United States of America

      Quick Facts

      • Artistic Movement Or Style: Gee's Bend Quilts
      • Artists Or Movements Influenced By This Artist: ['African American art']
      • Artists Who Influenced This Artist: ['Louisiana Bendolph']
      • Date Of Birth: 1935
      • Full Name: Mary Lee Bendolph
      • Nationality: American
      • Notable Artworks:
        • Untitled (quilt)
        • Work-clothes quilt
      • Place Of Birth: Georgetown, United States of America
      Mary Lee Bendolph: The Full Collection
      Explore artworks organized by themes, styles, and characteristics.