Selected Past Exhibitions

Can You Take Me Higher? Digitally printed and quilted cotton. 2016.

Madison and Matthew Creech - This Must Be the Place

Monday, December 4, 2017 to Friday, January 26, 2018

The gallery will be closed beginning noon, Friday, December 22, 2017 through Monday, January 1, 2018. The gallery will reopen at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 2, 2018.

"This Must Be the Place," an exhibition of unusual quilts by artist couple Madison and Matthew Creech, runs through Jan. 26 in the Robert Hillestad Textiles Gallery at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Patchwork and Quilts of North Karnataka, India

Monday, October 16, 2017 to Friday, November 17, 2017

Quilting is both a practical craft and an art form practiced around the world. In both craft and art, quilting tells the story of the culture from which it takes its form. This exhibition presents Quilts from North Karnataka, emphasizing the diversity of patchwork in this region of southern India. Former TMFD merchandising faculty member Dr. Shubha Bennur has gathered a great deal of data and documentation on the quilts of Karnataka, from five regions in that state. In travels there she interviewed a number of quilters and their family members.

Installation view. — Foreground-Park Bench Quilts, Eliana Babcock, Age 15, Lancaster County; Hand Beaded Blue Gown, Marta Pulfer, Age 18, Wayne County; Background-Plaid Jumper w/Red Wool Top, Karla Herrarte, Age 12; Zig Zag Fall Colors, Sarah Lucht, Age 15, Buffalo County.

Celebration of Youth XXIV

Monday, September 11, 2017 to Saturday, September 30, 2017

The annual exhibition “Celebration of Youth XXIV” continues through September 30^th at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Robert Hillestad Textiles Gallery. As with all twenty-three preceding iterations of the exhibition, this one showcases the work of youth from around the state, who competed at the Nebraska State Fair in the 4-H areas of Clothing, Home Environment, and Quilt Quest.

"Girls" and "Geometric C," screenprints by Alexander Girard.

Alexander Girard and Textile Design at Mid-Century

Monday, May 22, 2017 to Friday, September 1, 2017

Hillestad Gallery summer 2017 exhibition opens May 22

The exhibition “Alexander Girard and Textile Design at Mid-Century” opens in the Robert Hillestad Gallery on May 22, 2017 and continues through September 1. The exhibition features Girard’s designs from the department’s historic textiles collection alongside fashion of the period, to examine how trends in textile pattern, color and fiber were connected across multiple design fields and served as expressions of modernity.

Best of Show, Alison Cloet, Junior, "Stepped Gable Dress."

Biennial Student Juried Exhibition

Monday, April 10, 2017 to Friday, May 5, 2017

Winners of the TMFD Biennial Student Juried Exhibition have been announced. The recipients are as follows: Best of Show, Alison Cloet of Sutton, Nebraska; Award of Distinction, Agustin Torres of Grand Island; Award of Distinction, Sarah Woodman of Nebraska City, Nebraska; Honorable Mention, Olivia Steen of Minden, Nebraska; and Honorable Mention, Samirah Alotaibi of Taif, Saudi Arabia. Each awardee receives a cash prize and will be honored at a free public reception on Friday, May 5th from 5:00pm to 6:30pm, at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Robert Hillestad Textiles Gallery.

Nenes & Chumicos are nuts from Costa Rica that were beaded to embellish the Garment “Lo Que Fuimos”, 2017 Katherine Rodriguez Hernandez.

A través de los años: Costa Rican History through Conceptual Apparel Design, Katherine Rodriquez Thesis Exhibition

Monday, March 13, 2017 to Friday, March 24, 2017

“A través de los años: Costa Rican History through Conceptual Apparel Design”, a graduate student thesis exhibition, runs from March 13^th through March 24^th in the Robert Hillestad Textiles Gallery on UNL’s east campus. The general public and the university community are invited to attend an opening reception from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Monday, March 13^th, 2017.

Gold and green metallic brocade evening suit, 1970s Designer: Arnold Scaasi Departmental purchase from the estate of Mary Wangsness of Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2016.001.001

New Acquisitions from the Textiles, Merchandising & Fashion Design's Historic Costume Collection

Monday, January 30, 2017 to Friday, March 3, 2017

The exhibition NEW ACQUISITIONS FROM TEXTILES, MERCHANDISING & FASHION DESIGN’S HISTORIC COSTUME COLLECTION runs from January 30^th through March 3^rd , 2017 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Robert Hillestad Textiles Gallery.

Video links: https://youtu.be/RQ-p0lGYCb4 https://youtu.be/A_5IpBxXS2c

Domestic Interiors: Hand Needlework and the Cult of True Womanhood in 19th Century American Quilts

Monday, December 5, 2016 to Friday, January 20, 2017

Note: The exhibition will close at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, December 23, 2016 and reopen on Tuesday, January 3, 2017 at 8:30 a.m.

Wandering Spirit: African Wax Prints

Monday, October 24, 2016 to Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Special events: Reading of selections from “The Fishermen” by Assistant Professor Chigozie Obioma, 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 1 in Human Sciences Building Room 11 on East Campus. Reception and book signing follow in the Hillestad Gallery.

Piano Key Spinner by Annika Johanson of Pierce County, age 14.

Celebration of Youth XXIII: A Harvest of Creatives

Monday, September 26, 2016 to Saturday, October 15, 2016

“Celebration of Youth XXIII: A Harvest of Creatives” opens on September 26th and continues on exhibition at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Robert Hillestad Textiles Gallery through October 15th. A public reception honoring the artists and their families will take place on Saturday, October 15^th in Room 11 of the Human Sciences Building on east campus, beginning at 3:00 p.m.