“Quilts look better when you have a lot of them.”

Joanna S. Rose

New Yorker Joanna S. Rose (1930-2021) began buying quilts in the 1950s. She enjoyed searching for bargains at flea markets and antique stores. Mrs. Rose did not consider herself a collector. Rather, she described herself as a “treasure hunter,” saying, “A collector always wants to better a collection. I buy only what I like and for no other reason.”  Joanna Rose particularly liked red and white quilts!

In 2022, the International Quilt Museum celebrates 25 years. The 1997 donation of the 1000-piece Ardis and Robert James Collection to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln established the IQM. For the past quarter century, the James Collection has formed the museum’s core, its heart.

In 2022, the International Quilt Museum celebrates 25 years. The 1997 donation of the 1000-piece Ardis and Robert James Collection to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln established the IQM. For the past quarter century, the James Collection has formed the museum’s core, its heart.

In 2022, the International Quilt Museum celebrates 25 years. The 1997 donation of the 1000-piece Ardis and Robert James Collection to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln established the IQM. For the past quarter century, the James Collection has formed the museum’s core, its heart.

The Hopi people of northeast Arizona live in 12 villages dotted across what are referred to as First Mesa, Second Mesa, and Third Mesa. They have a long history of producing beautiful cotton and wool blankets, robes, belts, and ceremonial sashes. Quiltmaking became a tradition after its introduction to Hopi women by Christian missionaries more than 100 years ago. Hopi artists draw upon designs unique to their culture, often seen in pottery and baskets.

South Asia is rich in quiltmaking traditions. Women have made quilts in this region for centuries and have used them in a multitude of ways: as bed covers, seating mats, tent panels, and dowry items. Varying techniques, color palettes, and formats can be found among different ethnic and regional groups, and certain styles can help identify where a quilt likely was made. In this group of Indian and Pakistani quilts from the International Quilt Museum’s Education Collection, we look at how the techniques of appliqué, piecing, and quilting are used among diverse South Asian communities.

Marianne Fons and Liz Porter (Fons & Porter) collaborated on production of one of the all-time best-selling quilt books, the 1993 Quilter’s Complete Guide. Their impact in the quilt world was magnified further when in 1995, they launched their syndicated national public television program Love of Quilting on PBS. The success of both of these endeavors placed them as two of the most widely known quilt personalities in the world and one of the best known brands in the quilting industry.

Terrie Mangat is an international quiltmaker focused on creating expressive, contemporary work. Though trained as a printmaker and having worked as a potter, Mangat has made art with fabric and quilts for nearly 50 years, and is credited with starting the embellishment movement in quilts.

September 16, 2021 - March 19, 2022
West Gallery

What happens when yesterday’s Modern meets today’s Modern?