“Iowa Artists 2025: Ben Millett” Exhibition

“Iowa Artists 2025” features the work of quilt maker Ben Millett. Based in Des Moines, Millett’s approach to textiles is literally multi-layered, employing traditional quilting techniques to create works that combine original patterns, a bright palette, and visual nods to queer iconography and activism. This exhibition will feature various types of Millett’s textile art, including large quilts, garments, multi-paneled fabric collages, and an artist’s book made from fabric. This will be the first solo exhibition of quilted art in the history of the Des Moines Art Center.   Millett’s inspirations range from his own biography to formal color theory to pop culture. In vivid colors, Millett’s work introduces several themes in this presentation. These textiles are a playful blurring of the lines between art and utilitarian objects, connecting to both the bright abstract paintings and the contemporary textiles found in the Art Center’s Richard Meier building. His works inspire a direct dialogue around the importance and history of queer pride, echoing multiple works in our galleries that tell stories of identity, visibility, and justice. “Iowa Artists 2025: Ben Millett” is co-curated by Art Center Senior Curator Laura Burkhalter and Ben Millett.   Support for this exhibition is provided by: Mike Simonson Monday Closed Tuesday 10am - 4pm Wednesday 10am - 4pm Thursday 10am - 7pm Friday 10am - 7pm Saturday 10am - 5pm Sunday 10am - 5pm