Painted Quilts from the Hopi Mesas is an exhibition of quilts and other objects made by the Hopi people of northeast Arizona. The exhibition opens October 22, 2021 and runs through April 30, 2022.

The Hopi Tribe is a sovereign nation located in northeastern Arizona. Their reservation occupies part of Coconino and Navajo counties and encompasses more than 1.5 million acres. Members of the 34 Hopi clans live in 12 villages on plateaus known as the First, Second, and Third Mesas, and their villages are some of the oldest communities in the United States. The matrilinear culture supports itself through agriculture, using a traditional dry farming technique dependent on precipitation occurring through winter snows or summer monsoon rain. They have long had a deep connection to textiles through their use in ceremonial clothing and blankets, sewn or woven by men in each family or clan. Quilting, introduced by missionaries in the 19th century, built upon this tradition. Both men and women embraced the art form and transformed it into unique quilts that hold Hopi imagery such as butterflies, kachinas and depictions of sacred corn. The designs often relate to the unique art form of each mesa: First Mesa women make pottery, while Second and Third Mesa women weave baskets and plaques.

This International Quilt Museum exhibition features a wide variety of painted quilts made for wedding and baby gifts, for family use, for personal satisfaction, and sometimes for sale. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 4pm, with free admission for all UNL students who show their university ID.