Crossroads

Overview

Photographs stitch together an artist's portfolio

A collection of 25 improvisational quilts, this compilation from one of the premier colorists in contemporary American art represents work from three distinct series of quilts, all of which are photographed in sensational colors and with extensive detail. The quilts in the first series, Constructions, are large complex pieces created from hundreds of strips of fabrics. The next, Markings, is a series of nine quilts in which the artist explores calligraphy. In the final series, Structures, the artist repeatedly places silk-screened images directly onto cloth, creating blocks of color. Featuring the works-in-progress alongside the finished artwork, this showcase provides fascinating insight into the artistic process.

Reviews

"This collection of quilts demonstrates the continuing vitality of Nancy Crow's creative output. Her strengths as a colorist, designer, craftsperson, and visual thinker are in clear evidence here. But beyond those abilities, it is Crow's willingness to take risks in the studio that has brought her to this compelling place in her career. She shows a kind of courage in her working procedures that few artists are able to sustain past youth or the first flush of recognition. That she still enters her workspace with her head full of questions and the nerve to keep experimenting and exposing herself to potential failure, marks her seriousness as an artist and her quality as an example." —David Hornung, Adelphi University, New York

Author Biography

Nancy Crow is considered the world's foremost art quilter, and her award-winning work has been instrumental in promoting quiltmaking from traditional craft to an art medium. Her quilts are on permanent display at several world-class art museums, including the Smithsonian Institute and the Museum of Arts & Design. She is the author of Improvisational Quilts, NANCY CROW, and Nancy Crow: Quilts and Influences. She lives in Baltimore, Ohio. David Hornung is a painter and former quiltmaker and the author of Color: A Workshop for Artists and Designers. He lives in New York City.