Basketworks: The Cotsen Contemporary American Basket Collection

September 28, 2008 – January 4, 2009

Norma Minkowitz
Hide Me, 1995
Cotton, shellac, resin, and tree branch
32 x 19 1/2 x 22 inches
Racine Art Museum, Gift of Lloyd Cotsen
Photography: Michael Tropea, Chicago

This exhibition debuts nearly 70 works from a 151-piece gift donated by internationally known fiber collector Lloyd Cotsen. The scope of this exhibition encompasses baskets that vary widely in size and appearance and that incorporates a variety of techniques and media. Many baskets represents traditional techniques like coiling and interweaving combined with traditional techniques like coiling and interweaving combined with traditional materials such as reed, tree bark, and pine needles. Several other baskets in exhibition reflect more inventive approaches. These baskets illustrate a host of non-traditional materials, such as woven copper, found wine bottle corks, hog gut, pistachio shells, and plastics that are assembled in innovative ways.

Mr. Cotsen’s collection is of particular note because the vast majority of the artists it represents are American women. This is a direct reflect of Mr. Cotsen’s belief that American women artists are leaders in advancing fiber as an art medium. He believes these artists are engaged in groundbreaking work that expands how the public perceives the basketry medium as a forum for serious work. Baskets—historically viewed only as functional objects used for storage—can now be explored as three-dimensional sculptural forms.

More About the Exhibition

Exhibition Notes (PDF)

Press Room

Artists in the Exhibition

Dona Anderson, Dorothy Gill Barnes, Dail Behennah, Joanne Segal Brandford, Chunghi Choo, Jill Nordfors Clark, Rob Dobson, Lillian Elliott, John Garrett, Maggie Henton, Marion Hildebrandt, Flo Hoppe, Mary Giles, Christine Joy, Gyongy Laky, Naomi Kobayahi, Shereen LaPlantz, Kari Lonning, Mika McCann, John McQueen, Mary Merkel-Hess, Doris Messick, Norma Minkowitz, Judy Mulford, Debora Muhl, Dennis Nahabetian, Leon Niehues, Linda Kelly Osborne, Fran Reed, Jill Romanoke, Ed Rossbach, JoAnne Russo, Betz Salmont, Hisako Sekijima, Karyl Sisson, Billie Ruth Sudduth, Polly Adams Sutton, Ema Tanigaki, Deborah Valoma, Don Weeke, and Jiro Yonezawa