Art quilt and fiber art collectors Carolyn Mazloomi, Nysha Nelson, and Rebecca Stevens take part in a panel discussion about their unique textile collections and the many facets of being a custodian of these works. The conversation, led by Jaimianne Jacobin, Director of the James Renwick Alliance for Craft, touches on how these collectors got started, what continues to motivate them and how they approach collecting as a passion and means of support for artists.
Carolyn L. Mazloomi is an artist, author, historian, and curator acknowledged as being among the most influential quilt historians in the United States. Mazloomi founded the Women of Color Quilters Network, which has been a major force in fostering the fiber artworks of African American people. She has written over ten books on the subject of quiltmaking and over the last two decades she has received countless awards and recognition from some of the most prominent institutions including the National Endowment for the Arts, the United States Artist Fellowship, the Quilters Hall of Fame Museum, the American Craft Council and the United Nations. During these endeavors, Mazloomi has amassed over 700 quilts, making her collection one of the most significant private quilt collections in the country.
Nysha Nelson is a multi-hyphenate creative who is passionate about beauty and empowerment. As a creator, he strives to push the boundaries of what is thought possible. As an educator, he provides students with the experience and belief that they are more capable than they know themselves to be. As a collector, he is interested in alternative-medium textile portraiture and is building a collection that embodies ’thinking outside the box’ while prioritizing support for artists.
Rebecca Stevens is the retired consulting curator of contemporary textiles from the George Washington University Textile Museum - a position she held for over three decades. In her capacity, she lectured on five continents and curated many exhibitions including several presentations of historical and contemporary quilts. Stevens was twice a juror for Quilt National, America’s renowned biennial showcase for today's quilt artists. amassed an impressive collection including works by Sonya Clark, Michael James, Cynthia Schira, Lia Cook, Ed Rossbach, and many other influential textile artists.
