Two Small Art Quilts

I know how I titled this post, but you’ll have to read to the end and let me know if you think what I’m making qualifies as an art quilt, okay?

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Something New for Me

I’m diving into a new area of artwork, yay!  (What an exciting sentence to write, btw!)

If you’ve followed this blog for a while, you know that I love to make quilt tops, but I hate to quilt them.  Case-in-point, this one has been in my drawer for more than a year (and has the wrinkles to prove it) and I still haven’t quilted it:

I also love hand embroidery. It’s my go-to travel/TV watching project. This is a project I’m currently working on:

Well, I decided to mush the two discliplines together: quilt tops that aren’t quilted PLUS hand embroidery. And these two little art quilts are my prototypes:

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Take a Closer Look

These are 8×8 art quilts or maybe canvases?

In essentials, I made a mini quilt top, added batting, and then wrapped it around a pre-stretched canvas.

As you can see in the photo, I just stapled it onto the back of the frame like it was a piece of canvas.

I’m really enjoying putting together these petite compositions.  They take a surprisingly loooooong time (compared to painting or printmaking) but I think they’re worth it! I don’t feel quite ready to speak eloquently about them, but there’s a homey quality that I really like about them. I purposely left some fraying edges, which I really like (but my Mom says she hates):

Oh, and I’m still perfecting my mitered corners.  The batting made them really bulky and I don’t love the look. Let me know if you have suggestions!

In any case, I think you’ll see a lot more of these small wonders from me!!!

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Is it an Art Quilt?

Technically speaking, an art quilt is a type of quilt created primarily as a form of artistic expression rather than for traditional functional use like warmth on a bed. Unlike traditional quilts, which often emphasize pattern repetition, utility, or cultural tradition, art quilts highlight innovation, originality, and the maker’s creative vision.

Key Characteristics of an Art Quilt:

• Medium of Fine Art: Considered closer to painting or sculpture, art quilts are displayed on walls like other artworks.
• Unique Design: Often one-of-a-kind pieces rather than patterns made for replication.
• Techniques & Materials: May use traditional quilting methods (piecing, appliqué, hand or machine stitching) but also incorporate mixed media, painting, dyeing, printing, photography, and embellishments like beads or found objects.
• Concept & Narrative: Many art quilts explore themes, tell stories, or express emotions, functioning as visual narratives.
• Innovation: The emphasis is on pushing the boundaries of what a quilt can be, rather than adhering to established quilting traditions.

In short, an art quilt transforms quilting into a contemporary art form, combining fabric, stitch, and concept into a visual and tactile statement.

So tell me, do you think these are art quilts or something else? I’d love to know!

Thanks for stopping by!