Rosie Lee Tompkins: A Retrospective

Slideshow of selected works

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  • Left: Untitled, 1991; quilted by Irene Bankhead, 1991; velvet, velveteen, velour, and cotton backing; 73 × 67 in.
    Photography by Ben Blackwell

    Right: Untitled, 1986; quilted by Willia Ette Graham, 1986; velvet, velveteen, faux fur, panné velvet, and velvet backing; 86×74in.
    Photography by Sharon Risedorph

  • Left: Untitled, 1986; velvet, velveteen, velour, faux fur, other fabrics, and flannel backing; 89 × 82 in.
    Photography by Ben Blackwell

    Right: Untitled, 1986; velvet, velveteen, velour, crushed velvet, embroidered velveteen, printed cotton, rayon print, acrylic yarn, and pieced printed cotton backing; 85 × 631⁄2 in.
    Photography by Ben Blackwell

  • Untitled, c. 2002; cotton, printed cotton, polyester, canvas, knit velour, polyester fleece, wool, polyester knit, polyester double knit, cotton embroidery, and buttons; 104 × 145 in.
    Photography by Ben Blackwell

  • Untitled, 1986; quilted by Irene Bankhead, 1997; velvet, velveteen, velour, faux fur, panné velvet, and cotton muslin backing; 99 × 115 in.
    Photography by Sharon Risedorph

  • Left: String, 1985; quilted and restructured by Willia Ette Graham, 1985; velvet, velveteen, and chenille backing; 101 × 86 in.
    Photography by Sharon Risedorph

    Right: Untitled, 1985; quilted by Willia Ette Graham, 1985; velvet, velveteen, velour, panné velvet, chenille, cotton-polyester broadcloth, and cotton backing; 87 × 771⁄2 in.
    Photography by Sharon Risedorph

  • Left: Three Sixes, 1996; quilted by Irene Bankhead, 1996; polyester double knit, linen-weave cotton or polyester, cotton, rayon, and cotton muslin backing; 96 × 96 in.
    Photography by Ben Blackwell

    Right: Untitled, c. 1990; quilted by Willia Ette Graham and Johnnie Wade, 1991; polyester double knit and cotton backing; 55×55in.
    Photography by Sharon Risedorph

  • Untitled, 1970s, with embroidered scripture added mid-1980s; quilted by Irene Bankhead, 1997; found and repurposed hand- and machine-embroidered fabrics, decorative trim, crocheted doilies, velveteen, shisha mirror embroidery, cotton thread embroidery, and cotton muslin backing; 102 × 92 in.
    Photography by Ben Blackwell

  • Untitled, 1986; quilted by Irene Bankhead, 1990; velvet and velveteen; 75 × 49 in.
    Photography by Sharon Risedorph

Virtual Tour

Join BAMPFA Director and Chief Curator Larry Rinder for a virtual tour of the exhibition Rosie Lee Tompkins: A Retrospective, co-curated with Andrew Mellon Postdoctoral Curatorial Fellow Elaine Y. Yau.


Family Guide

This guide invites you to look closely at the art of Rosie Lee Tompkins, with prompts for observation and opportunities to describe what you see. Plus, we’ve included some related hands-on art activities!

Click to view or download PDF