Form, Not Function: Quilt Art at the Carnegie explores the world of contemporary art quilts and features the work of fiber artists from across the United States. Since 2004, this annual juried exhibit has celebrated innovation and creative thought in the increasingly popular medium of art quilts.

Each fall, fiber artists across America submit entries to compete for exhibition in
Form, Not Function. Out of hundreds of entries received annually, only about 40 are selected by the panel of jurors for the exhibit each year. Works must meet certain criteria regarding size, construction and date of completion.

Each year, the Carnegie Center selects an individual to serve as judge for the exhibit. The judge awards the Carnegie Center, Inc. $1,000 Best in Show prize as well as Merit Awards sponsored by local individuals and organizations with an interest in the fiber arts. Past judges have included Jane Burch Cochran, a well-known quilt artist residing in Rabbit Hash, Kentucky; Penny Sisto, an internationally known fiber artist residing in Floyds Knobs, Indiana; Lida Gordon, Distinguished Teaching Professor in the Department of Fine Arts at the Hite Art Institute of the University of Louisville; and Arturo Alonzo Sandoval, full professor at the University of Kentucky Department of Art, known internationally for his innovative weavings and mixed media art quilts.

Form, Not Function has become an annual event on the calendars of many notable fiber artists, and the Carnegie Center is proud to continue its emergence as a known venue for the exhibition of contemporary art quilts.