How Bearden's landmark quilt exemplifies his complex art and rich legacy Romare Bearden's (1911-88) Patchwork Quilt (1970) is a monumental collage that proves the artist's mastery of his signature medium. Acquired by the Museum of Modern Art the year it was made, the work has become a landmark in Bearden's career. But his path to creating it, to embracing collage, and to making work that addresses the specifics of...