WEST Australian Quilters Association (WAQA) returns to Midland Junction Arts Centre’s (MJAC) galleries to premiere the 15th edition of the biennial, juried contemporary quilting exhibition Stitched and Bound.

Stitched and Bound is WAQA’s contemporary quilting exhibition, featuring a range of innovative textile work being produced by Western Australian artists who challenge the traditional concept of the ‘quilt’ medium.

The biennial was inaugurated with the The Razor’s Edge exhibition held in Fremantle in 1995 as an opportunity for local textile artists to present works outside the traditional confines, using more adventurous ideas, materials and methods.

Though the name has changed, the exhibition remains one of the leading exhibitions of contemporary quilts in Australia.

Presented across the East, West and Hallway Galleries at MJAC the 2026 exhibition marks the 15th edition of Stitched and Bound, with 50 works by 43 artists.

After premiering at MJAC, the exhibition will embark on a regional tour to galleries in Katanning, Geraldton and Carnarvon.

The works exhibited are the result of a juried assessment from three independent industry professionals with backgrounds as contemporary quilters and textile artists, curators and educators.

To qualify for exhibition, works must be composed of at least two layers held together with stitching or tying filaments to be considered a ‘quilt’, however artists are encouraged to push the boundaries of the medium through the use of unconventional materials, ideas and techniques, and focus on telling a story or making a personal statement.

Each entry is assessed on artistic merit, innovation and the standard of design and execution.

Alongside the Stitched and Bound exhibition, MJAC’s CoLab space transforms into a creative textile hub as twelve contemporary quilt artists work in residence.

Janice Blight, Julie Devereux, Margery Goodall, Janine Judge, Jocelyne Leith, Virginia O’Keeffe, Linda Penny, Tiiu Stojanovic, Linda Stokes, Louise Wells, Anne Williams and Mo Woltersdorf invite the public to visit as they work on their own projects and share their creative practices.

Supported by Handcrafters House Midland, visitors are welcomed to drop in to discuss the artist’s processes, learn various sewing techniques and take part in a range of free drop-in activities.

Visit the residency page on the MJAC website to find out more about each artist and when they will be in residence.

With a range of works and artists to discover in both the exhibition and artist in residence program, the exhibitionis a wonderful opportunity for visitors to immerse themselves in the varied and intriguing world of contemporary quilting.

Stitched and Bound will be open and free to the public from Saturday, May 2 to  Sunday, June 28.

For more information about what is on offer and to book, please visit the MJAC website.