Marquetta Johnson
Textile Artist & Art Educator

Marquetta is a native of Atlanta, Ga. who comes from four generations of family artisans – quilters, seamstresses, tailors, and embroiderers. They were foundational influences whose indelible imprints she would carry with her as she developed throughout her career. In 1975, at 21 Marquetta learned to tie-dye from Tina Dunkley, a renowned textile artist and painter. A two year apprenticeship under Zenzele Dumsante, a South African surface design artist, taught her specifically about African textile designs. From their nurturing, she developed a style that was all her own including her own distinct way of applying the dyes. Masterfully, she began painting, sewing and embroidering symbols of visionary impressions of nature’s splendor onto fabric exploding with color. Many opportunities abounded for her to connect with those who would receive, appreciate, and delight in her talent and the prolific contribution she had to make. Her wall-hangings, pillows, and framed tapestries were placed in galleries and museum collections in San Antonio, New York, and Atlanta. They also became included in the private collections of Mr. and Mrs. Bernie Marcus, Faith Ringgold, B. B. King, Lew and Clare Shomer and many corporate collections throughout the country.
Marquetta is a practicing Teaching Artist and Quilter currently residing in Stone Mountain, Georgia. She has over 20 years of teaching experience and professional development in the areas of Arts Integration, Arts Infusion and Inclusive Classrooms. Marquetta has appeared on many radio and television shows discussing and demonstrating her art form, an example being HGTV’s “Crafters Coast to Coast”. Marquetta’s artwork has been featured in several magazines including “Quilt Magazine” and MARTA’s “Marta on the Go Magazine”. Marquetta is also a published author having written the book “Hand Dyed Quilts” now being sold on Amazon.com. Marquetta has affiliations with VSA International-Kennedy Center, the Names Project-The Aids Memorial Quilt Foundation, the Atlanta Partnership for the Arts in Learning and the High Museum of Art in Atlanta. Georgia.
A focal point of her career is in sharing her love for textiles and quilting techniques with children. An evidence of her exceptional teaching ability is the riveting images produced in the Olympic Youth Art Project sponsored by the Coca-Cola Company-Atlanta Georgia. The four quilt series produced in collaboration with Atlanta Middle School Students is displayed on the International Concourse at the Hartsfield- Jackson Airport.
Marquetta gives and says in so many ways. Lectures, workshops, special classes – her work continues to multiply – abundantly, vibrantly, energetically. “Art gives me the vehicle to put into material form some of the ideals I try to live by and want to share with others, especially children whose young inquisitive minds are seeking after something positive and alive!