Join Quilt Scholar Olivia Joseph to explore 19th century Western interpretations of the East as found in quilts, and, more broadly, Western art and craft of that era.

In their research, Olivia was intrigued by the quilt exhibition at Philadelphia’s 1876 Centennial Exposition which led to an interest in Japonisme, the vogue for Japanese art and craft in 1813. Coined in 1870, the term Japonisme entered the language of western artists and craftspeople to describe the tremendous influence of Japanese and other Asian cultures on cultures of the West.

Come discover the profound impact of Asian art and_ Japonisme _on the West that continues to the present day.

Olivia Z. Joseph is a Quilt Research Fellow at Mingei International Museum as well as a Program Coordinator for the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino. Continuing to explore the world of museums, Olivia made their way into the field through an internship experience with the National Museum of African American History and Culture – focusing on Collection Management and Conservation. Fascinated by interpretation, history, and storytelling, they hope to continue exploring art/objects and the complex meanings and histories which can be discovered through them.

Olivia is currently working to produce a quilt exhibition, Layered Narratives: Quilted Stories of Gender & Race at the 1876 Centennial, opening at Mingei in spring of 2025!

Mingei’s Quilt Research Fellow position is made possible through support from the Terra Foundation for American Art.