BAMPFA’s Newest Quilt Exhibit is a Multigenerational Masterpiece
This past weekend Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA) unveiled a new exhibit: the world’s largest collection of African American quilts is now on display. This remarkable assembly reveals deeply personal narratives stitched into every fabric, blending historical memory with contemporary meaning which leaves you touched and inspired. Routed West: Twentieth-Century African American Quilts in California opened to the public June 8th and is available for viewing through November 30, 2025.
When Black families moved to California during the Second Great Migration—from the 1940s through the 1970s—they brought with them generations of quilting traditions from the communities they left behind. Routed West explores this powerful history, showing how these quilts carry the stories, struggles, and their hope for the future. In 2019, BAMPFA became the proud steward of this breathtaking collection of African American quilts—a gift that captures generations of memory, artistry, and resilience. Each quilt tells a story, offering warmth, beauty, and a powerful journey through time.
By the end of my time walking through the exhibit I was genuinely touched and felt a bit teary remembering how quilting has been part of my own family history as long as I can remember. Tucked in a 1970s cedar hope chest gifted to me is a quilt made by great grandmother. I’ve become the quilt keeper. I keep the quilt safe from damage and I visit with it, examining it’s handwoven stitches every so often to make sure it’s still intact.
As a maker and a great granddaughter of a quilter, I felt heart tied to this exhibit like none I have seen in recent history. I recognized some of the classic quilt patterns like the double wedding band, the log cabin and the more improvisational piecing of fabrics in some of the quilts. As a person who loves history I was really wowed how quilts tell a story about what was happening historically at the time. One 3D puff quilt was made from repurposed tobacco sacks. Some of the fabric was hand died to create a white and blue checkered pattern.
The curators have done a great job of helping preserve more delicate quilts by hanging them at an angle so they aren’t being pulled by their own weight. They also created smaller quilts so that you could touch and feel the quality of the fabric and learn about the construction without touching the well-preserved quilts on display.
The final section of Routed West shines a light on the vibrant quilting community right here in the Bay Area. You’ll see incredible work by local artists, including members of the African American Quilt Guild of Oakland, who are also sharing photos and keepsakes from their archives—along with contributions from other African American quilt guilds across California. This section also features new pieces by San Francisco-based artist William Rhodes, known for his powerful quilt series born out of the African American Shipyard History Quilt Project—a collaboration with artist Stacey Carter and seniors from the Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood.
Routed West: Twentieth-Century African American Quilts in California is more than just an art exhibit—it’s a living archive of creativity, resilience, and cultural memory. Whether you come as a quilt lover, a history buff, or someone simply curious about the stories fabric can tell, this show offers something deeply human and profoundly moving. It reminded me that quilts aren’t just textiles—they’re heirlooms, records, and acts of love passed down through generations.
Routed West: Quilt exhibit at BAMPFA: Image from BAMPFA
Where to get tickets to see Routed West at BAMPFA
Routed West is an unforgettable exhibit at BAMPFA that honors African American quilt traditions as living heirlooms of art, history, and love. If you’re anywhere near Berkeley, don’t miss the chance to experience it for yourself. I highly recommend looking into taking a tour with the curators of the exhibit for the full experience. The exhibit runs through November 30, 2025, at the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive. Tickets available at: https://bampfa.org/.
Howdy! My name is Katy Atchison and I'm an Associate Editor for Broke-Ass Stuart.
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