Curated by Riane Menardi, Alissa Haight Carlton, and Heather Grant of the Modern Quilt Guild

Modern quilts are utilitarian art. They tell stories. They are graphic, improvisational, or minimalist. They break the rules. They make a statement. Modern quilts are creative expressions made with needle and thread, fabric, and time, expressing today’s aesthetic through a generations-old traditional craft.

Experience the power of modern quilts firsthand in this exhibit of 60 innovative and inspiring quilts that represent the best modern quilts and quilters of the past decade. In this exhibit, traveling to the Whatcom Museum in Bellingham, Wash., you’ll see the work of modern quilters past and present and learn the story of modern quilting from its earliest roots and influences throughout today.

Hands-on activities will allow visitors of all ages to experience the artistry and process of quilting, and to explore the styles, patterns, and variations between modern and traditional quilts.