Visions Museum of Textile Art

09/02/2026

Have you ever considered how a visually impaired visitor might explore a museum space? When touch is so often forbidden, how can these visitors engage meaningfully with exhibitions? Many museums have taken steps to innovate methods of engagement to be more inclusive to our visually impaired communities. At VMOTA, we often have educational stations where visitors can touch textiles and connect with the exhibitions on display. In “Soft Architectures of the Sea” by Marita Setas Ferro, visitors are invited to touch the loops, knots, and fibers that compose her soft sculptures, welcoming all visitors to explore the creativity of textile art.

Soft Architectures of the Sea by Marita Setas Ferro in is on display from now until October 10th.

This exhibition presents interactive textile sculptures as material reflections on marine ecosystems, care, and environmental precarity. Visitors are invited to touch these sculptures that invite proximity and embodied response, allowing tactility, softness, and vulnerability to operate as forms of knowledge. We encourage you to touch, reflect upon, and appreciate these meticulous artworks by .

On display in the Dr. Sandra Ann Edwin Gallery at Visions Museum of Textile Art.

Financial support is provided by the City of San Diego. VMOTA is also supported in part by the California Arts Council, a state agency.

09/01/2026

Thank you, The San Diego Union-Tribune, for highlighting our exhibition. Quilts Japan: The 17th Quilt Nihon is on display until October 10th. We are open to the public Wednesday-Thursday from 10 AM to 2 PM and Friday-Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM. We hope to see you soon!

Go behind the scenes with Visions Museum of Textile Art curator Armando Garcia and the new exhibition Quilt Japan: The 17th Quilt Nihon.

In today’s “In the Curator’s Words” by Michael James Rocha, delve into the extraordinary works from Japan’s most prestigious international quilt exhibition. Now on view through Oct. 10.

Read the full story in The San Diego Union-Tribune at https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/08/30/in-the-curators-words-celebrating-the-art-and-craft-of-quilts/ ⬅️

08/31/2026

Our Program Manager, Lauryn, chose “Traces of an existence V” by Nereida Dusten as her favorite in Nereida's exhibition, “What does it mean to draw a line if home is a verb?”. She states, “I love the details in this piece. The tear of the paper, the simplicity of the red thread juxtaposed with the complex story of grief that it tells."

“What does it mean to draw a line if home is a verb?” by is on display in until September 5th. Catch it before it’s gone!

In this exhibit, Dusten’s mixed media artwork combines embroidery, photography, and collage to trace a line through past and present as a process of rediscovery. She asks: The line enters reality to define limits; so where does the line of home begin?

On display in the Spotlight Gallery at Visions Museum of Textile Art.

Financial support is provided by the City of San Diego. VMOTA is also supported in part by the California Arts Council, a state agency.

08/29/2026

Stories in Cloth: Communicating Through Textiles is an exhibition presented by the Museum of History and Culture La Jolla in partnership with Visions Museum of Textile Art.

The show explores how textiles from around the world and throughout history have been used to communicate stories, identity, and shared experience. Focusing on three key themes—storytelling, activism and resistance, and cultural expression—the exhibition highlights historic and contemporary works, collaborations with local artists, and loans from institutions and artists. Stories in Cloth celebrates textiles as powerful tools for connection, creativity, and cultural expression. On display until September 6, 2026!

Featuring works by Charlotte Bird, Patricia Kelly, President of the San Diego People of Color Quilt Guild, Michelle Montjoy, Christine Lee, Maryam Bayat and Persian Place, Claudia Rodríguez-Biezunski of Sew Loka, and the Barona Cultural Center & Museum, this exhibition explores the stories, identities, and traditions expressed through cloth and textile art. Selections from the Visions Museum of Textile Art permanent collection further enrich the exhibition, creating a dialogue between contemporary makers and enduring textile traditions.

This exhibition is made possible through the generosity of the Seth Sprague Educational and Charitable Foundation, Pamela Dekema, Ann Craig, and Carole and Nicholas Preece.

All photos are by Pablo Mason (2026).

Artworks pictured include Thai Puppets and “Ten of Clubs” by M. Joan Lintault courtesy of Visions Museum of Textile Art’s Permanent Collection.

08/26/2026

Our Executive Director, Katrina, chose “Jump Out!!” by Mayumi Yamagishi as her favorite in the Quilts Japan: The 17th Quilt Nihon exhibition. She states, "The amount of detail in this miniature quilt is astounding. This artist used meticulous handwork to create small versions of traditional quilting motifs in a new and innovative way, drawing viewers to lean in closer by her use of color and design. Every time I walk into the gallery, I stop at this piece to examine more of the details."

Quilts Japan: The 17th Quilt Nihon

This exhibit features extraordinary and innovative works from the biennial competition of the Japanese Handicraft Instructor's Association (JHIA). This West Coast debut is the last stop before the exhibition heads back to Japan, making it a rare opportunity to see award-winning pieces from this prestigious competition.

On Display in the Camille and Vanessa Gallery and The Sebastian Family Gallery at Visions Museum of Textile Art.

Financial support is provided by the City of San Diego. VMOTA is also supported in part by the California Arts Council, a state agency.

08/24/2026

Did you know that VMOTA’s store is filled with treasures made by local artists? Like our exhibitions, our store showcases the versatility of textile art.

Spruce up your home with placemats by VMOTA volunteer, Nelda McComb, or textile wall art by Lisa Yoder. Transform your wardrobe with indigo-dyed silk scarves by Janice Shigehara or whimsically embroidered ties by Trish Kydd. The VMOTA store has something for everyone!

Welcome autumn in style by shopping in our VMOTA store.

A special thank you to our wonderful store manager, Christine, and to our VMOTA volunteer models, Barbara and Helen.

08/22/2026

Sashiko translates to “little stabs” in Japanese. These stitches originate from Japanese rural traditions as a means of decorative mending. This artform showcases that even practical needs can be embellished with creativity! Check out the Quilts Japan: The 17th Quilt Nihon exhibition to see examples of sashiko and stop at our education table to explore the intricacy of sashiko design.

Quilts Japan: The 17th Quilt Nihon

This exhibit features extraordinary and innovative works from the biennial competition of the Japanese Handicraft Instructor's Association (JHIA). This West Coast debut is the last stop before the exhibition heads back to Japan, making it a rare opportunity to see award-winning pieces from this prestigious competition.

On Display in the Camille and Vanessa Gallery and The Sebastian Family Gallery at Visions Museum of Textile Art.

Financial support is provided by the City of San Diego. VMOTA is also supported in part by the California Arts Council, a state agency.

08/19/2026

The textile arts are expansive and ever evolving. Artists like Nereida Dusten utilize textiles alongside other materials to showcase that textile art knows no bounds in its ability to tell compelling stories. Nereida uses embroidery to immortalize scenes from her family photo album. Years of collective memories coalesce in this exhibition featured in our Spotlight Gallery. On August 22nd at 1pm, Dusten will discuss her exhibition, “What does it mean to draw a line if home is a verb?” RSVP at https://vmota.org/nereida-dusten-lecture-textile-landscapes/

“What does it mean to draw a line if home is a verb?” by is on display in until September 5th.

In this exhibit, Dusten’s mixed media artwork combines embroidery, photography, and collage to trace a line through past and present as a process of rediscovery. She asks: The line enters reality to define limits; so where does the line of home begin?

On display in the Spotlight Gallery at Visions Museum of Textile Art.

Financial support is provided by the City of San Diego. VMOTA is also supported in part by the California Arts Council, a state agency.

08/17/2026

After the United States, Japan has the second largest concentration of quilters, with an estimated 2 to 3 million quilters. Many early Japanese quilters indicated that the television show “The Little House on the Prairie” and eclectic African American quilting traditions were a source of inspiration in their practice. Though Japanese quilts were inspired by American quilting traditions, Japanese quilting has developed its own artistic flare, deeply influenced by the rich history of Japanese textile art and symbolic patterns. Explore these cultural motifs using the educational materials* created by our wonderful education intern, Karla!

Quilts Japan: The 17th Quilt Nihon
This exhibit features extraordinary and innovative works from the biennial competition of the Japanese Handicraft Instructor's Association (JHIA). This West Coast debut is the last stop before the exhibition heads back to Japan, making it a rare opportunity to see award-winning pieces from this prestigious competition. The quilts pictured are by Noriko Tanabe, Klein Elke, Yoko Kanazawa, and Mayumi Yamagishi.

On Display in the Camille and Vanessa Gallery and The Sebastian Family Gallery at Visions Museum of Textile Art.

Financial support is provided by the City of San Diego. VMOTA is also supported in part by the California Arts Council, a state agency.

*Source- Univers du Japon, Teresa Duryea Wong’s Japanese Contemporary Quilts and Quilters

08/15/2026

Our Curator, Armando, chose “White Anemone” by Marita Setas Ferro as his favorite in her exhibition, “Soft Architectures of the Sea”. He states, “This piece is my favorite because of the rich textures it possesses. The selection of yarns of varying thicknesses, colors, and materials creates an interesting sense of play that is reminiscent of diverse marine life. The ability to touch this piece to explore in a hands-on way is truly a unique experience.”

Soft Architectures of the Sea by Marita Setas Ferro in is on display from now until October 10th.

This exhibition presents interactive textile sculptures as material reflections on marine ecosystems, care, and environmental precarity. Visitors are invited to touch these sculptures that invite proximity and embodied response, allowing tactility, softness, and vulnerability to operate as forms of knowledge. We encourage you to touch, reflect upon, and appreciate these meticulous artworks by .

On display in the Dr. Sandra Ann Edwin Gallery at Visions Museum of Textile Art.

Financial support is provided by the City of San Diego. VMOTA is also supported in part by the California Arts Council, a state agency.