Artwork copyright Robert Purser. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Artwork copyright Robert Purser. Photo courtesy of the artist (detail).

Artwork copyright Robert Purser. Photo courtesy of the artist (detail).

Artwork copyright Robert Purser. Photo courtesy of the artist (detail).

Artwork copyright Robert Purser. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission.

Hors D'Oeuvres Quilt, 1991

Robert Purser
(American, born 1940, died 2009)

Location: Office of the Washington State Auditor, Olympia

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

Hors D'Oeuvres Quilt is a whimsical and colorful assemblage by artist Robert Purser that features sewn paper plates and constructed "Hors D'Oeuvres" made from objects found around the artist's studio. He notes that the idea for this piece was inspired by his "childhood experience, spending summers on a farm in Louisiana. I used to watch my great-grandmother and grandmother make quilts from patterned flower sacks."

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Kent School District.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Artist Robert Purser (1940-2009) explored many different materials and processes over his career as an artist and educator. He was known for his work in textiles and for architecturally driven, quilt-like sculptures made of found objects and sewn paper. Bellevue College (in Bellevue, Western Washington) hired him as their first art instructor, and he taught there for forty-four years.
Purser received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Central Washington University. After finishing his undergraduate degree, he served in the Peace Corps doing craft development work in Peru, South America. He then received a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Washington in Seattle in 1966. He received a PhD in architectural education from the University of Oregon in 1978.