Tenderness and Empathy Prevail in Bisa Butler’s Nostalgic and Vibrant Quilts

Embodying the essence of compassion, Bisa Butler showcases a heartfelt and stirring collection of artworks in her latest exhibition, Hold Me Close, currently on view at Jeffrey Deitch. Renowned for her vibrant and intricately patterned quilted pieces, Butler explores themes of Black history, identity, and traditional craftsmanship. Each of her elaborate creations utilizes materials like printed cotton, silk, sequins, beads, and velvet to offer both grand tapestries and intimate scenes.

At the heart of Hold Me Close lies the essential human desire for mutual love, respect, and togetherness amidst an increasingly divisive society. “This body of work is a visual response to my feelings as an African American woman in 2025,” Butler articulated in her statement regarding the exhibition. Deeply affected by the current climate of division and violence, where hard-earned civil rights are under threat, she looks to the past to illuminate the present.

Hold Me Close draws inspiration from pioneering Black photographers such as Gordon Parks, Jean Depara, and Gerald Cyrus. Their poignant photographs capture Black individuals in everyday life, sharing moments of joy and connection. Gordon Parks, a vigorous civil rights advocate, documented the harsh realities of racial segregation and the oppression of Black communities during the 1940s and 1950s, challenging social disparities through his iconic imagery.

Over his esteemed two-decade tenure at Life magazine, Parks produced significant works ranging from celebrity portraits to the revered documentation of the March on Washington in 1963. Alongside numerous luminary photographers and artists like Faith Ringgold and Kerry James Marshall, Butler utilizes Parks’ imagery to reflect the changing landscape of American culture and experience.

Butler’s techniques result in captivating figures adorned in colorful, mixed-media textiles that emphasize emotional expressions and shared moments. She describes her current works as a “visual diary,” a source of comfort in turbulent times. “Protections and programs for non-white Americans, women, queer individuals, those living in poverty, and people with disabilities are under siege, leaving me feeling unsettled,” she notes.

In response to this sense of uncertainty, Butler invokes tenderness and warmth. Works such as “Les Amoureux du Kinshasa,” inspired by Jean Depara’s photograph “Amoureux Au Nightclub,” celebrates young love, depicting a couple enjoying a night out together. Other pieces like “Be Mine” and “My Cherie Amour” tenderly portray individuals leaning closely to one another.

Moreover, Butler explores the warmth of familial bonds and the innocent joys of childhood in her creations. Works like “The Guardian” show a father cradling his daughter in his coat, while “Down, Down Baby” depicts two young girls having an unexpected tea party in a puddle.

Most of Butler’s recent artworks begin by layering colors and textures over a base of deep black cotton or velvet. She emphasizes, “Starting with a dark base encouraged me to incorporate more fabrics that shimmer and reflect.” Textures such as beads and rhinestones add complex layers, urging viewers to delve deeper than surface appearances. This thematic choice reflects the necessity of looking beyond the surface to foster connections with others. Butler declares, “This collection is my visual proclamation of prioritizing love over hatred.”

Hold Me Close is open at Jeffrey Deitch’s Los Angeles gallery until November 1. Explore more about the artist on her website and follow her on Instagram.