Quilts
Made in Canada

Northern Night (detail), 1955, designed by Ada B. Torrance, sewn by Torrance and members of Simcoe County Arts and Crafts Association, Orillia, Ontario. Cotton tabby textile, pieced, appliqued and embroidered. 956.159.A. Gift of The Star Weekly. Image @ROM.

Date

Closed Jun 29, 2024 to Nov 17, 2024

Location

Level 3,
Centre Block

About

Every quilt tells a story.

From the permanent collections at ROM comes a new exhibition highlighting some of the most visually intoxicating examples of artistry, community, and sustainability made in Canada: quilts.

Quilts are repositories of past and present lives. Exquisitely patterned and meticulously stitched, they hold the interwoven legacies of home and family. The exhibition features over twenty rarely displayed Canadian-made quilts dating from the 1850s to the present day, and showcases a range of designs from utility quilts constructed from recycled materials for warmth and comfort to stunning examples created to mark life changing events. Made by individuals and communities, each quilt unlocks unique stories about makers, materials, composition, construction, and the shared histories of those who made it.

The timeless beauty of colour paired with each quilt's clever and complex composition will fascinate, captivate, and inspire, whether you're a novice or experienced quilter, interested in making sustainable design solutions, or keen to learn more about historic and contemporary culture of everyday life in Canada.

 

QUILTS: Community

Host this Exhibition

Northern Night (detail), 1955, designed by Ada B. Torrance, sewn by Torrance and members of Simcoe County Arts and Crafts Association, Orillia, Ontario. Cotton tabby textile, pieced, appliqued and embroidered. 956.159.A. Gift of The Star Weekly. Image @ROM.
Travelling Exhibitions

ROM’s travelling exhibitions bring together renowned curatorial expertise with award-winning, visitor-centric interpretation and design – all inspired by an outstanding and unique collection that spans art, culture, and nature.