“I wonder if what we know now as ‘color interaction’ was not something mysterious and spiritual to these quiltmakers.” – Gerald Roy

Brilliant Color. Inventive Design. Exquisite American Craftsmanship. The San Diego Museum of Art presents Quilts and Color from The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Quilts and Color from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston celebrates the vibrant color palette and inventive designs found in the outstanding array of early American quilts amassed over decades by the collectors Paul Pilgrim and Gerald Roy. Quilts and Color explores the work of craftsmen who, since the 19th century, have combined classic American quilting patterns with an innate and sophisticated grasp of color theory. The works in the exhibition are grouped according to visual effects, including chromatic vibrations, mixtures, gradations, harmonies, and optical illusions. In all, Quilts and Color presents nearly fifty-works of eye-popping designs that echo the works of mid-20th century Abstract Expressionism and so-called “Op arts.” The luminous blending of colors, arresting motifs, and graphic intensity of these works will be a revelation for fans of American craft and Modern Art alike.

Quilts and Color is accompanied by series of programs and events.

May 26 | Friends Lecture & Reception
May 28 | Members’ Preview
June 23 | Culture & Cocktails: Quilts and Color
July 3 | Family Drop-In Day: Exploring Quilts
July 28 | Painting on Tap: Quilts and Color 
August 1 | Film in the Garden: How to Make an American Quilt