Romare Bearden: Patchwork Quilt

How Bearden's landmark quilt exemplifies his complex art and rich legacy

Romare Bearden's (1911-88) Patchwork Quilt (1970) is a monumental collage that proves the artist's mastery of his signature medium. Acquired by the Museum of Modern Art the year it was made, the work has become a landmark in Bearden's career. But his path to creating it, to embracing collage, and to making work that addresses the specifics of Black life in America in ways that are both specific and broadly accessible, w...