LINCOLN, NE (April 22, 2026) – The International Quilt Museum at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (IQM) announces a first-of-its-kind exhibition celebrating 250 years of quiltmaking in conjunction with the semiquincentennial of the United States.

“Material Nation: 250 Years of American Quiltmaking” will span all six of the museum’s galleries, with 250 quilts and quilt-related objects sourced from the museum’s internationally recognized collection. These quilts, many on display for the first time, are positioned as central works of American material culture reflecting two centuries of creativity, community life, and history.

The IQM is one of several organizations partnering with Craft in America for “Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026,” a nationwide initiative to showcase the importance of the handmade both throughout our history and in contemporary life. This exhibition is part of the collaborative effort to celebrate the art and craft that defines America.

“‘Material Nation’ brings together works that reveal quilting as a living record of American experience," said Sarah Walcott, the Ardis B. James Curator of Collections at the IQM. "By placing historic and contemporary quilts in dialogue, the exhibition shows how this tradition continues to evolve while remaining deeply rooted in the country’s many histories, identities and lived experiences."

Each IQM gallery is being uniquely curated by a member of the IQM team representing different time periods in the American story. Exhibit installation will begin in June and conclude on July 2. The exhibition will be on display through Dec. 19.

“This exhibition provides a unique opportunity to see our nation’s history in a fresh and novel way,” said Leslie Levy, the Ardis & Robert James Executive Director at the IQM. “It has been invigorating to see quilts as historical touchstones. We cannot wait to share this stunning show with the world.”