‘Rosemary Ollison: Know My Heart’ presents the rich fiber creations of local artist
The Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts (WMQFA) is thrilled to announce “Rosemary Ollison: Know My Heart,” the first solo museum exhibition of acclaimed self-taught artist Rosemary Ollison. This groundbreaking exhibition will showcase thirty of her works.
Celebrated for her intricate textile work, Ollison has dedicated over forty years to her artistic practice, primarily created in her home environment. This exhibition marks a significant milestone in her career and will be accompanied by a fully illustrated catalog featuring her unpublished writings, along with scholarly essays by historians Dr. Sharbreon Plummer and Debra Brehmer.
Rosemary Ollison, “Big Mama”, 2019; repurposed leather and thread; stitching; 120 x 144 in. Courtesy of Portrait Society Gallery. Photo: Daniel McCullough.
As a remarkable self-taught artist and storyteller, Ollison grew up in the segregated Jim Crow South, spending her early years on a plantation in Arkansas. She describes her childhood conditions as being “one or two steps away from slavery” and was able to leave the plantation at the age 16. In 1996, as she began to heal from an abusive marriage, Ollison started creating art spontaneously. Over the course of four years, she produced over one thousand drawings.
She attributes this outpouring of images and symbols to her deeply held Christian and the Biblical passage: “Search me, God, and know my heart.”
Rosemary Ollison, “Life Force #2,” 2021; repurposed leather, cloth, and fabric paint; stitching; 48 x 40 in. Courtesy of Portrait Society Gallery. Photo: Daniel McCullough.
Ollison’s artistic practice is defined by her creative use of repurposed materials, including fabric scraps, glass, leather, beads, bones, and jewelry, which she weaves into monumental wall tapestries, hanging sculptures, and improvisational quilts.
With “Rosemary Ollison: Know My Heart,” WMQFA aims to shed light on her rich fiber practice, which includes quilts, rugs, wall hangings, garments, and beaded objects. While Ollison has gained recognition for her previous exhibitions and was honored as a 2018 Nohl Fellow, this project seeks to elevate her status on a national level, ensuring that she receives the acknowledgment her artwork rightfully deserves.
Join us for the Opening Celebration and Conversation between Rosemary Ollison and Dr. Sharbreon Plummer, followed by a book signing, on September 13, 2025 from 1–3 p.m.
Generous support for “Rosemary Ollison: Know My Heart” is provided by Greater Milwaukee Foundation, American Quilt Study Group, the Wisconsin Arts Board—National Endowment for the Arts, Judy Hearst – Coldwell Banker Realty, Nirmal Raja, and Victoria Findlay Wolfe.
