Cotton Bed Quilt c. 1941

This Cotton Bed Quilt was made by Elgin Moncure Styll, who lived from 1855 to 1995; what a life! It's a small piece, just over a foot tall, but it contains a whole world of color and texture and pattern. I love how the different fabrics are pieced together to create this starburst design. The patterns are so varied, and the colors are both bold and muted. Look at the variety in the pink border, the way the material fades and intensifies. There is something very playful about the color choices and the arrangement of the different fabrics. It's as if the artist was experimenting with different ways of seeing and experiencing the world. There's a dialogue here, across different materials and techniques. For me, this piece recalls the work of Rosie Lee Tompkins, another artist who worked with found textiles. Like her, Styll wasn't afraid to embrace imperfection and asymmetry. It’s this tension that makes the piece so compelling. It shows how art is always an ongoing conversation, an exchange of ideas across time and space.