Bisa Butler

A beautifully illustrated look at the work of one of todays most exciting artists Bisa Butler (b. 1973) 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 scholarsand entries by the artist herselfilluminate Butlers approach to color, use of African-print fabrics, and wide-ranging sources of inspiration. Offering an in-depth exploration of one of Americas most innovative contemporary artists, this volume will serve as a primary resource that both introduces Butlers work and establishes a scholarly foundation for future research. Distributed for the Art Institute of Chicago Exhibition Schedule: Katonah Museum of Art, New York (March 15October 4, 2020) Art Institute of Chicago (November 14, 2020September 6, 2021)