"Published in conjunction with an exhibition of the same title held at the Art Institute of Chicago from November 14, 2020, to April 19, 2021. The exhibition was co-organized with the Katonah Museum of Art, where it was on view from March 15 to October 4, 2020."--Title page verso.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Bisa Butler (b. 1975) is an American artist who creates arresting and psychologically nuanced portraits composed entirely of vibrantly colored and patterned fabrics that she cuts, layers, and stitches together. Often depicting scenes from African American life and history, Butler invites viewers to invest in the lives of the people she represents while simultaneously expanding art-historical narratives about American quiltmaking. Situating her interdisciplinary work within the broader history of textiles, photography, and contemporary art, contributions by a group of scholars--and entries by the artist herself--illuminate Butler's approach to color, use of African-print fabrics, and wide-ranging sources of inspiration. The first monograph on one of America's most innovative contemporary artists, this volume will serve as a primary resource that both introduces Butler's work and establishes a scholarly foundation for future research. Exhibition: Art Institute of Chicago, USA (14.11.2020 - 18.04.2021).