In 2018, the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive received a monumental bequest from Eli Leon, a quilt collector whose death revealed he left behind over 3,000 African American quilts. This collection, now comprising 20% of BAMPFA's holdings, positions the museum as a leader in this art form. An upcoming exhibition, Routed West, will feature 100 quilts from this collection, marking the first substantial survey of African American quilts in the museum's history, under the direction of Dr. Elaine Yau who is advocating for the cultural significance of these artists.
Eli Leon's bequest has made BAMPFA the world's leading institutional holder of African American quilts, now comprising nearly one-fifth of its art holdings.
The exhibition Routed West represents the first significant survey of African American quilts in California, showcasing 100 pieces from Leon's massive collection.
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