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Art Quilts

Category: <span>Art Quilts</span>

Art quilts, at first a curiosity in both the quilt and art worlds, are now a contemporary genre of their own. They reflect the artmakers’ vision and creativity as much as paintings do.

Beginning with fabric or other fiber-based materials, quilt artists conceive abstract or representational art. Fiber is their palette. Piecing, appliqué, thread painting, collage and more all play a role. Fiber artists create landscapes, portraits, abstract art or address social justice issues – any image they can conceive.

Art quilters are also referred to as fiber artists or textile artists. They use a wide variety of materials to make a visual impact with their work. Works can include surface design with paints or dyes, raw edge appliqué and a variety of media.

They work with traditional quilting methods or works in an improvisational style. Most of all, they are lifting fiber arts as a visual arts medium.

Browse through the art quilts and quilters for your own inspiration, then make your own.

Applique Art Quilts

Flirting

Spotlight: Karol Kusmaul, Fiber Artist

Karol Kusmaul made her first quilt as a project with her class of third grade students for a school fair. Now she makes graphic art quilts - portraits, landscapes and...

All You Need is Love by Kathy McNeil

Spotlight: Kathy McNeil, Appliqué Quilt Artist

Meet award-winning appliqué quilt artist Kathy McNeil! She began her creative journey as a young child, then later discovered the possibilities of making pictures from fabric. Her most challenging piece...

Lush Summer

Spotlight: Lucy Levenson, Folk Art Designer

Her brave use of color when combining fabric, stitch and paint sets Lucy Levenson apart from the crowd. With intricate details, her fanciful work invites an up close and personal...

Abstract Art Quilts

Touch of Color by Sherri McCauley

Spotlight: Sherri Lipman McCauley, Fiber Artist

A paint flinger. Sherri Lipman McCauley's description of her process does more than hint at her improvisational style. Sherri's art cloth begins with plain white fabric that she transforms into...

Kibun Mood by David Owen Hastings

Spotlight: David Owen Hastings, Textile Artist

David Owen Hastings is a textile artist whose work appeals to those who love organic processes and the beauty of nature, color and texture. David combines his monotype-printed paper with...

American Album

Spotlight: Alexis Deise, Contemporary Quilter

As a contemporary quilter, Alexis Deise works in series to focus and dig deeper into ideas that are important to her, all while honoring the women who built an enduring...

Thread Painted Art Quilts

Compassion

Spotlight: Hollis Chatelain, Textile Artist

Inspired by her humanitarian work in Africa, Hollis Chatelain creates art quilts that raise awareness of the human condition in the third world. Back in the States, she wanted to...

Thread Painting Alice

Thread Painting

Thread painting is a type of free motion embroidery where the thread "paints" images your quilt top - the quilt top is your canvas and the thread is your paint. I...

The Long Goodbye by Lea McComas

Spotlight: Lea McComas, Thread Painter & Fiber Artist

As Lea McComas travels the world and immerses herself in rich and vibrant cultures, her art reflects the human experience. With fabric and thread, she captures moments that highlight the...

Landscape Art Quilts

Rocky Mountain Poison quilt

Spotlight: Luana Rubin, Artist and Creative Entrepreneur

How do you spot Luana Rubin? She's the one with a gazillion balls in the air! Painter, photographer, art quilter, color forecaster, philanthropist, world traveler and fabric industry entrepreneur, Luana's...

Slot Canyon by Vicki Conley

Spotlight: Vicki Conley, Potter and Art Quilter

As a scientist, Vicki Conley loved doing research. It was while "researching" for a new job that she took a pottery class and never looked back. But she kept looking...

Cactus quilt at sunset

Spotlight: Susie Monday, Fiber Artist and Teacher

Raised in a creative home, at the age of 9 with the gift of a "real" artist box, Susie Monday became an Artist-with-a-Capital-A. She believed it, and so it was...

Modern Art Quilts

Homage by Jacquie Gering

Spotlight: Jacquie Gering, Modern Art Quilter

Jacquie Gering begins each quilt with an idea, but lets inspiration lead throughout her process, sometimes taking the work on unexpected, but welcome, turns. Known for her use of clean,...

Meeting of the Geese

Spotlight: Sylvia Schaefer, Modern Quilter

Can art and science get along? Of course they can! With a Ph.D. in marine science, Sylvia Schaefer approaches quilting from a scientist's point of view, always asking, "What if?"...

Flow by Geraldine Warner

Spotlight: Geraldine Warner, Fiber Artist

Fiber artist Geraldine Warner had never quilted, but knew she wanted to somehow paint with fabric. Working mostly with silk, she immerses herself in every part of the creative process,...

More Art Quilts

Covid Quilt fiber art by Patricia Caffrey

Spotlight: Patricia Pérez-Canto Caffrey, Textile Artist

When Patricia Caffrey first saw a quilt hanging on a wall, displayed as a piece of art, she knew that was what she wanted to do. She creates textile art…
Vally View, Yosemite textile art by Sandra Mollon

Spotlight: Sandra Mollon, Textile Artist

Sandra Mollon spent over 25 years making traditional quilts and was ready to try something new. She already drew inspiration for her appliqué quilts from photographs, so it was natural…
Annabell and Xavier fiber art by Jo-Ann Morgan

Spotlight: Jo-Ann Morgan, Visual Artist

Jo-Ann Morgan bought a sewing machine at the beginning of the Coronavirus lockdown with the thoughts of drawing on fabric with stitching. She began thinking about quilts and now creates…
Reverb fiber art by Michaela Romesburg

Spotlight: Michaela Romesburg, Textile Artist

Michaela Romesburg found her love of fabric and sewing early on. While studying costume and textile design, she discovered a textile artist. That was the moment she was inspired to…
Regeneration fiber art by Kay Leech

Spotlight: Kay Leech, Textile Artist

Kay Leech was reaching retirement and wanted to try something creative. She jumped right into courses and studied with City and Guilds. Now she enjoys creating her textile art with…
Iridescence fiber art by Julie Reuben

Spotlight: Julie Reuben, Fiber Artist

Julie Reuben came to quilting from bead embroidery and now creates QuiltCon award winning quilts. Look closely at the detailed hand stitching in her work. And she always has a…
Sky Trippers art quilt by Dinah Sargeant

Spotlight: Dinah Sargeant, Fiber Artist

Dinah Sargeant studied painting in college and discovered quilting when her children were young. She now combines both passions to create detailed painted art quilts and art dolls. Working on…
Sunken Citadel Happy Village by Karen Eckmeier

Spotlight: Karen Eckmeier, Fiber Artist

Try to keep up with Karen Eckmeier! She has written five books, teaches classes, and creates award-winning quilts. She works on one piece at a time. Her favorite part? The…
Feel the Wave fiber art by Leilani Purvis

Spotlight: Leilani Purvis, Fiber Artist

Leilani Purvis is an award-winning fiber artist and teacher who creates detailed textile art inspired by nature. Look closely at her work; see the animals' inner mood through their eyes.…

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