“My work is nothing without the foundation and history of my ancestors.”

Originally from North Carolina, Bonnette is an improvisational quilter who combines textile manipulation and oil painting to present scenes of Black womanhood and Diasporic identity. "My work is nothing without the foundation and history of my ancestors," says Aliyah. She began exploring quilting three years ago after finding barrels full of her late grandmother's projects from the 70s. "By incorporating the very fabrics and unfinished quilts she touched and sewed herself, my practice becomes a space to stitch together the stories and memories of black women across generations.

Hometown: Raleigh, NC