Influential Woman · Quilt Artist

LaToya Thompson

Museum Volunteer/ Assistant Curator, C. Williams Rush Museum of African American Arts & Culture

Nesmith, SC

2Awards received

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree Bachelor's Degree in Art Studio Degree Benedict College Degree Columbia Degree South Carolina Degree 2004 Degree Master's Degree in Museum Studies Degree Southern University of New Orleans Degree 2022 Member African American Quilter Guild Member National African American Quilter Guild Member African American Association of Museums (AAAM) Member Unified Business Sorority

Her Story

About LaToya

I've been working as a quilt artist professionally since 2001, though my journey with quilting began much earlier when I was just 6 years old, learning from my grandmother. My work is focused on art quilts that combine painting and embroidery to tell stories, similar to Faith Ringgold's style. A lot of my pieces explore African American history, our culture, our beliefs, and the Gullah culture in particular. I also create work about women who have influenced me. I received my undergraduate degree in Art Studio from Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina in 2004, and later earned my master's degree in Museum Studies from Southern University of New Orleans in 2022. One of my proudest achievements was creating a piece about the late Congressman John Lewis for a quilt show a few years ago. The International African American Museum in Charleston, South Carolina saw the piece, purchased it, and it's now part of their permanent collection. In addition to my art practice, I work full-time as a teacher, where I share my passion with students and always tell them that their artwork is a part of them and they are the ones telling the story. My dream is to one day work in a museum as a curator, combining my artistic background with my museum studies training.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with LaToya

01What do you attribute your success to?

All my artwork comes to me in vision, so first and always, I give honor to God first, because He's the one who gives me the talent. My quilting is really about telling stories through my art. A lot of my quilts are history, basically. I try to tell stories of African American history, our culture, our beliefs in the Gullah culture, and just being me. As an artist, you always put yourself into your art, your heart and your soul. Your artwork is a part of you, and you are the one who's telling the story.

02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?

I don't think I received it, but the advice that has guided me is to continue to do what I'm doing and don't give up on my dreams of being a quilter. And hopefully one day I'll be working in a museum as a curator.

03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

You have to be yourself. You can't be the next person besides you. As an artist, you always put yourself into your art, your heart and your soul. Because I'm a teacher too, I always tell my students that your artwork is a part of you. You are the one who's telling the story. So put yourself into it.

04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?

Challenge-wise, it's just getting the artwork out there, and for me, it's time. As an artist, I'm trying to create the work and do the business part as well. Working as a teacher, working a full-time job, and being an artist full-time, so that's kind of a challenge for me. Balancing everything that comes with it is difficult.

05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?

With my quilting, my value is to actually just tell a story. A lot of my quilts are history, basically. I try to tell stories of African American history, our culture, our beliefs in the Gullah culture, and just being me. It's about putting my heart and soul into my work and being authentic to who I am.

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