Biographical note:

The American Folk Art Museum, New York, is the premier cultural institution in the United States dedicated to the collection, exhibition, and study of more than three centuries of traditional folk art and the work of international contemporary self-taught artists.

Elizabeth V. Warren is a collector, independent curator, author, and trustee of the museum.

Martha Stewart has created a broad national awareness of Americana and American folk art through her publications and television shows.

Maria Ann Conelli is the executive director of the American Folk Art Museum.

Stacy C. Hollander is the senior curator and director of exhibitions at the American Folk Art Museum.

Country of final manufacture:

CN

Main description:

From America’s preeminent museum collection, this definitive volume places the quilt firmly in the realm of art. Combining economy with artistry and everyday craftsmanship with extraordinary beauty, quilts hold a unique place in American culture. Each quilt tells a story about its maker and her community; seen together, these monumental textiles paint a broad picture of the development of a national character and uncover the hidden history of women’s contribution to art. This volume brings together the two hundred most important examples from the esteemed collection of the American Folk Art Museum, many of which are shown here for the first time. Each masterpiece was chosen carefully as an emblem of its time, style, and technique. Concise texts introducing each chapter remain entirely accessible in tone and never intrude upon the full-page image reproductions and countless detail enlargements that reveal the intricate stitching and surprising dimensionality of the works.

Review quote:

"Curl up with these colorful new books... Quilts ($75, rizzoliusa.com), a survey of the American Folk Art Museum's collection, with a forword by Martha" ~Martha Stewart Living

"An American Original. Quilts hold a unique place in American culture, each telling a story about its maker and her community. In Quilts: Masterworks from the American Folk Art Museum, independent curator and museum trustee Elizabeth V. Warren brings together 200 examples from the New York museum, each representing the era in which it was made, its style and technique." ~Home & Design

"...a beautiful full-color book" ~The Huffington Post

"All 336 pages of Quilts: Masterworks from the American Folk Art Museum will inform, intrigue and inspire you. The book by Elizabeth V. Warren marks the opening of a year-long exhibit (presented in two parts) of the same name featuring textile masterpieces in the AFAM's collection. Two hundred quilts in 11 categories are highlighted." ~Quiltmaker