Native American Quilts from the Southwest

A brilliant selection of Native American quilts was displayed at the 2025 Modern Quilt Guild show.* From a collection at Michigan State University, their bold colors and graphic designs feel like a precursor to many of the elements we see in modern quilts today.  

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Black Foot Boy's Shirt Quilt (1983) by Margaret Wood (Navajo & Seminole) quilted by Una Jarvis 

These stunning wall hangings by Margaret Wood were inspired by a Blackfeet boy's shirt made circa 1870. It's a wonderful color study with dark and lighter blues contrasting with yellow-orange. 

Blackfeet Color Study #2: Navy/Turquoise by Margaret Wood (Phoenix, Arizona) 

Even more minimalist, the navy/turquoise center of this quilt is a counterpoint to the Seminole-inspired border. So many precursors of modern quilting can be seen here. The center also reminds us of Amish bar quilts which are beautiful in their simplicity.

Image credits: Quilts are from a collection at Michigan State University. Photos were taken at the 2025 QuiltCon show in Phoenix, Arizona.