Tina Williams Brewer

Tina Williams Brewer, Carol R. Brown 2024 Established Artist awardee. Photo credit: Frank Walsh.
Tina Williams Brewer, Carol R. Brown 2024 Established Artist awardee. Photo credit: Frank Walsh.

Born in West Virginia, Brewer says her close-knit community gave her a strong foundation in family and spiritual connections. She graduated from the Columbus College of Art and Design and eventually moved to Pittsburgh. Her work reflects observations and interpretations of her journey as a wife, mother, community volunteer, businesswoman and teaching artist. She began to explore the importance of knowing her cultural origins after moving to Pittsburgh. Living in Homewood, Brewer has seen many changes and has incorporated the experiences and observations into her story quilts.  

“I am a weaver of fabric scraps that I believe embody the feelings and the personal energy of others,” she says. “The fabric gives me a personal insight into other cultural connections. These deep connections are woven into my work, sometimes reflected in the fabric choices, or the vibrant color pallet, but the origin story of the quilt is always reflective of the people’s voice and inquiry. I feel the ancestors are guiding me through the process as an artist working in the visual and oral traditions. The gift I have been given allows me to mentor and empower others as they learn to find their own voice and create their own work and stories.” 

Brewer’s work has been widely displayed locally and internationally including exhibitions at the United States Embassy in Ghana and the American Craft Museum in New York City.