Signature of Ruth B. McDowell in white cursive on black background.

Art Quilter | Author | Teacher

Ruth B. McDowell (1945-2024) was a pioneer in the American contemporary art quilt movement. Utilizing the medium of found commercial cotton cloth, and the technique of traditional right-sides-together piecing, Ruth’s body of work represents a sustained and extraordinary development spanning nearly 50 years. Themes in her art quilts follow several interweaving paths: geometry, botany, the natural world, color and pattern, abstraction and composition.

Retrospective

1987-2017. Not for sale. These art quilts are in the collections of museums, corporations, and private collectors and represent a few of Ruth’s personal favorites.

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An art quilt depicting an old wooden barn with a pitched roof, situated in a winter landscape with snow-covered ground and trees in the background.

Available Art Quilts

The art quilts in this section are arranged chronologically, with the most recently finished listed first. These are the only remaining pieces for sale.

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A colorful art quilt depicting a green hilly landscape with a red barn, trees, a winding dirt path, and a light sky with subtle rainbow colors, signed by the artist in the bottom right corner.

Print Shop

A selection of Ruth’s art quilts are now available as museum-quality prints.

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A framed print featuring "Ladders," an art quilt by Ruth B. McDowell, hanging on the wall, a wooden surface with a bowl of oranges, and a vase with white flowers, two white candles in concrete holders.
A framed print featuring "Prickly Pear," an art quilt by Ruth B. McDowell, in a modern interior with a plant, a turntable, books, a gold lamp, and an orange chair.

About
Ruth B. McDowell

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Portrait of Ruth B. McDowell, an older woman with short gray hair, wearing a black top, patterned scarf, and large earrings, against a dark background.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about Ruth’s art quilts, methods, books, and teaching, plus information about the print shop.

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Colorful art quilt featuring five black and white pieced cows standing on green grass with colorful plants and a vibrant plant-patterned background.