Artist Insight: Bisa Butler

Artist Bisa Butler invites you into the world of her recent piece The Warmth of Other Sons, now in The Newark Museum of Art’s collection in a sit-down talk with Curator Tricia Bloom. Butler’s vibrant work depicts the African American life experience through stunning life-sized quilts.

[@GratitudeGriot]

wow wow wow!! so much to pull from this!! I love the deep dive on this piece! In quarantine, I started working on a canvas collage using a photo of my aunt and me in 1984. It's very much inspired by Bisa Butler and Danielle Scott's work. Amazing this is what Bisa did with her time in quarantine! LOVE the "take care of you" on Grandpa. I miss my grandparents so much. They should be cherished!! and the thoughtfulness and care in creating the little boy. That is such a smart analysis of the children really at the translators and assimilators for migrant families. This has me thinking of my family's great migration from Virginia to New York.

[@valariemcgee6316]

this womans workis phenominal handsdown !!!!!!!!!

[@wadenyoost1796]

More please. Thank you. Bless you!.

[@maryblackmon9549]

I can't believe these beautiful portraits are stitched into a quilt. What a fabulous piece of art work. I love it!

[@chalimutangama5840]

This is beautiful. The fact that the images look 3D also makes this work stand out. I live in southern Africa and this artwork really speaks to my culture coz of the use of Kente/Kitenge fabric.

[@pamjustsayin]

Awesome work!!!♥️♥️❤

[@julie5310]

Fantastic! Thank you.

[@ruthfaulls1867]

Love the story of the horse on the boy's pants! As a quilter, you make me love our art even more - keep sharing! Also, I was born in Orange and grew up in Essex & Hudson counties!

[@chalimutangama5840]

How can a person be this gifted? Here in Africa you see this fabric everyday wrapped around women as aprons or as intricate outfits. Never thought I would see the fabric in portraiture.

[@JerzSunflower]

This is absolutely amazingly beautiful. So talented.

[@j.h.777]

Literally popped up after watching a beginners quilting video. I am stunned at this, just breathtaking. I can only stare as each person seems to come alive from the quilt, patterns, colors. It’s looks 3-D, I think.

[@crystalwiley-brown1274]

Stunning, thoughtful, brilliant, impeccable work! Just….wow!

[@missypoo8545]

Her work is magnificent. I have never seen artwork with such intensity. Are you ever going to have a show in New York? I want to feast my eyes on these beauties to experience the full effect.

[@crystalwiley-brown1274]

Absolutely stunning, thoughtful, brilliant work!

[@jeannettewhiteside7675]

Beautifully and emotionally inspiring!

[@cosmiclight5429]

IM SO PROUD OF MY SISTER . BUT IM NOT SURPRISED BECAUSE THE ONE THING I KNOW ABOUT US IS THAT MELANIN IS MAGICAL AND WHAT EVER WE PUT OYR MINDS TO , IT WILL BE LIKE NO OTHER.....MELANIN MAGIC IS REAL !!!