Seen by many as a timeless, democratic art form, the quilt has evolved throughout United States history and continues to develop today. Made by a broadly under-recognized diversity of artistic hands and minds, the medium offers an opportunity to tell a rich and complicated story of our shared and contested history.
Celebrating aesthetic and technical achievements while also exploring the lives of quilters, the exhibition features approximately 50 remarkable examples of quilts and coverlets made from the 18th century up to 2021, presented in groups devoted to themes such as “Unseen Hands,” “Modern Myths,” and “Making a Difference.” Quilts and coverlets made by Americans of European ancestry will be shown with those created by Black and Indigenous Americans. Comparative examples from Britain, France, Mexico, and India will invite a broader understanding of five centuries of global textile production and trade.
Distinct narratives embedded in each of the exhibition’s quilts and coverlets provide insight into the lives enslaved and immigrant laborers, industrialization, and the nation’s expansion and emergence as a world power. Contemporary examples show how artists have used quilts as an expressive medium from the countercultural period of the late 20th century to today, with works reflecting the perspectives of LGBTQIA+, Latinx, and Indigenous American artists responding to such issues as gun violence, racism, and Indigenous sovereignty. Visitors will also be able to access a visual database of the NAMES Project’s AIDS Memorial Quilt.
Organized by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Unidentified maker. Peacock Alley Chenille Bedspread, 1930–40s. Cotton plain weave, embroidered with cotton pile; 99 x 88 1/2 in. Museum purchase with funds donated by Mrs. William van Siclen Jr. Photo copyright Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
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