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, Fabric of a Nation: American Quilt Stories from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston features nearly 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 are shown with those created by Black and Indigenous Americans. Comparative examples from Britain and India 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 of 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.

This exhibition is organized by Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts, where art inspires connections. By sharing exhibitions from one of the world’s most renowned collections, the MFA brings people together all across the globe. We invite you to experience the MFA in Boston, online at mfa.org, and around the world.