Quilts! Layers of Meaning

May 13, 2028–January 7, 2029

Examine the many roles quilts play in American life, from functional objects to powerful cultural touchstones. Organized thematically, quilts as craft, comfort, design, document, art, and political voice, the exhibition showcases the breadth of Winterthur’s quilt collection alongside select contemporary quilts. Together, these objects illuminate how quilt-making preserves stories, reflects personal and collective identities, and gives voice to social and political beliefs. Quilts! Layers of Meaning offers visitors a fresh understanding of quilts as both everyday textiles and profound conveyors of connection, creativity, resilience, and community.

Quilt, Bergen, New Jersey, 1859. Cotton, ink. Gift of Barbara and Marlin Rosen in honor of Katharine P. Booth 2019.0026