Voices in a Material World

9 x 9: Contemporary Quilts and Containers features 18 leading California fiber artists who transform traditional quilting and container-making into powerful contemporary statements. Their skillfully crafted works—quilted, woven, plaited, and twined—investigate cross-cultural narratives and techniques through innovative material exploration.

About Quilts

 The elevation of American quilts to fine art began at the 1876 Centennial International Exposition in Philadelphia, where intricately patterned and vibrantly colored quilts demonstrated how functional objects could transcend their humble origins through artistic vision. The 1970s American Fiber Movement further revolutionized the medium by moving quilts from bed to wall, as artists embraced diverse techniques, materials, and imagery to convey deeper meaning. The nine quilters featured here bring fresh perspectives to this legacy. Some create abstract compositions rivaling the visual impact of paintings, while others address pressing social, technological, and ecological challenges—inviting dialogue and inspiring hope.

 About Containers

 In contemporary fiber art, containers evolve beyond their fundamental purpose of holding and storing to become vessels for artistic expression. Artists combine traditional techniques—twining, coiling, knotting, and looping—with materials ranging from natural reed and grasses to commercial ribbons, found objects, plastics, and paper. Their works span from abstract sculptures to reimagined traditional forms, in scales from miniature to monumental.

Whether working with quilts or containers, these eighteen artists honor craft traditions while pushing material boundaries. Their innovations embed contemporary narratives and meanings that resonate with our time.