Portrait Quilts

Many of us are quilters as well as embroiderers and as a result, piles of different fabrics spill out of our stash cupboards every time we open them. Quilting, like any needlework, is an art form, and artist Bisa Butler demonstrates that in a vibrant and spectacular way.

“The Safety Patrol” – detail (source)

Butler prefers to use myriad vibrant colours and patterns to represent the skin and clothing of her photographically accurate subjects. Her quilts are portraits of people, filled with emotion and character, and yet formed out of scraps of fabric and thread.

“The Mighty Gents” – detail (source)

“I often start my pieces with a black and white photo and allow myself to tell the story.”

Butler now works in Brooklyn, New York and is represented by the Claire Oliver Gallery. Although she’s a professional artist, wouldn’t it be a joy to see her stash cupboard?

“The Three Kings” (source)

You can read more about Bisa Butler in this recent article by Colossal HERE