Quilt c. 1937

This 'Quilt' design by Gladys Phillips, made with what looks like watercolor, feels so considered. The red and green palette is simple, but so effective in bringing out the intricate details. The artist seems interested in the process of artmaking. There’s a real material presence to this piece. You can almost feel the texture of the paper through the delicate washes of color. It's as if each mark, each carefully placed leaf and berry, is a tiny act of meditation. Notice how the vine patterns create a sense of movement, a gentle rhythm that draws you in. And that central motif, the flower encased in a circle of triangles - it's so precise. Phillips’ work reminds me a little of the playful patterning of some of the early 20th century avant-garde artists. Like them, she embraces ambiguity and multiple interpretations, inviting us to bring our own perspectives to the mix. It’s art as an ongoing conversation, an exchange of ideas across time.