When museums first started hanging quilts on walls, it was groundbreaking. The quilts were presented as large-scale works of art — big pictures — and that’s when people really began to recognize the greatness of quiltmaking in America. It was a distinct visual art form, with a rich, vibrant history.

Collectors Bill and Linda Volckening hang quilts on the walls of their home. They view quilts as big pictures. This exhibition includes highlights from their collection, made between 1760 and the present day. The quilts offer a big picture view of American quilt history through individual moments of accomplishment and discovery.