Spring exhibits feature a Museum takeover by International Quilt Festival’s astounding collection!

As the largest show of its kind in the United States—in attendance, number of quilts on display, exhibitor booths, and classes—the International Quilt Festival boasts a storied history, and the show will celebrate its 45th anniversary next year.

​Fans with embroidered butterflies, c. 1885

Less known is the fact that Festival also maintains and adds to a wide-ranging Collection of antique and contemporary quilts, lovingly collected and curated over three decades by cousins Karey Bresenhan and Nancy O’Bryant Puentes. They are respectively the President/CEO and Executive Vice President of Festival’s parent company, Quilts, Inc. Bresenhan also founded Festival.

More of the Collection’s quilts than ever before will be on display simultaneously as part of two exhibits that will span all three galleries of the Texas Quilt Museum.

“Contemporary Quilt Art from the Collection of International Quilt Festival” and “19th Century Quilts from the Collection of International Quilt Festival” will run April 5-June 24, 2018.

The “Contemporary” exhibit will feature 34 art quilts, made between 1994 and 2013, and featuring a wide array of subjects, styles, and techniques.

“The artists range from several of the most famous names in contemporary quilt art
to emerging artists whose innovative work caught the collectors’ attention,” says Arpeggio (62” x 42”) by
Katie Pasquini MasopustMuseum Curator Dr. Sandra Sider. “Themes and styles in the art quilts include narration, color abstraction, landscapes, the cosmos, and homages
to antique quilts.”

On the “19th Century” side, quilts will include a lovely variation on the Ohio Rose, a patriotic Pineapple Log Cabin, charming motifs in appliqué, and a truly spectacular Crazy quilt. Several of the 19th-century quilts are masterpieces of hand quilting.

Be sure to see this once-in-a-lifetime pairing of exhibits from one of the
most important and storied quilt collections in the world, including 
several that have never before been
on display to the general public!

Both exhibitions this season are
partially sponsored by Reynolds
and Associates, Houston.