Michael A. Cummings (b. 1945) is widely regarded as the foremost African American male quilter in the United States, exerting a significant influence on contemporary quilt artists. Originally from Los Angeles, Cummings relocated to New York City in 1970, where he immersed himself in the vibrant cultural scene. He formed friendships and engaged in dynamic dialogues with prominent artists of the time, such as Norman Lewis, Camille Billops, and Romare Bearden and his wife. Inspired by Bearden’s work, he began experimenting with collage construction in 1973, eventually transitioning to fabric collage compositions using appliqué techniques. During this time, he also earned an Art History degree with studio art courses from the State University of New York. Cummings resides in Harlem, where he lives and works in a 120-year-old brownstone filled with an eclectic collection of African, African American, and multicultural art acquired from his international travels. Now retired from a full-time role with the New York State Council on the Arts, Cummings dedicates his time to researching African American culture and quilt making, transforming this history into narrative quilts.

Cummings' exceptional quilts have garnered national and international acclaim, with his works being part of the collections at the Renwick Gallery (Smithsonian Institution), Museum of Arts and Design (NYC), Brooklyn Museum, International Quilt Museum (Lincoln, Nebraska), California African American Museum (Los Angeles), Getty Center for Education in the Arts (Los Angeles), Museum of Art at Michigan State University, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture (NYC), Studio Museum in Harlem, and the American Embassy collection in Mali.