Member Preview: Patterns In Abstraction: Black Quilts from the High's Collection

Since 2018, the High has more than quintupled its holdings of quilts made by Black women. Highlighting this impactful collection, Patterns in Abstraction: Black Quilts from the High’s Collection explores the question, “How can quilts made by African American women change how we view the history of abstraction?”

Members see it first and free! On Thursday, June 27, discover this new exhibition before it opens to the public. The quilts on view largely feature variations on Birds in the Air and Housetop themes, two centuries-old quilt patterns that are geometric distillations of natural phenomenon and humanmade environments, while others hold deeper meanings as memorials to family members. Presented as objects made for use and with the artistic intent to represent people, places, and things abstractly, these quilts offer a window into how the works of nonacademic artists can transform our understanding of artistic innovation in American art.

The exhibition features quilts by well-known Gee’s Bend quilters such as Mary Lee Bendolph, Louisiana Bendolph, and Lucy T. Pettway, along with works by Atlanta-based quilter Marquetta Johnson and early twentieth-century examples by artists once known.

Preregistration is required. Please enter the exhibition at your designated time to prevent overcrowding in the galleries.