“A ROLL OF THE DIE”: This work by Liz Kuny of Morristown is one of 30 colorful, modern quilts that will be on display at Trenton City Museum from January 9 through February 9, in a traveling juried exhibition of the Studio Art Quilt Associates NY+NJ.
Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie will begin its 2026 art exhibition season with the quilt show “byCONTRAST: Apparent Contradictions.” A New Jersey and New York regional juried exhibition presented in coordination with Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA) NY+NJ, the show opens Friday, January 9, with an artists and members reception on Saturday, January 10. It will remain on view through February 9, with related programs to be announced.
For “byCONTRAST,” the second exhibition of its kind by the SAQA NJ+NY region, artists were invited to create and submit work that explores a contrast captured in everyday expressions. The selected entries examine seemingly contradictory or incongruous figures of speech used for drama, humor, or irony. The show was juried by acclaimed fiber artist Ann Johnston, whose experimentation with dye and fabric has led to exhibitions worldwide, including over 20 solo shows and multiple publications. “byCONTRAST” features 30 SAQA fiber artists.
Studio Art Quilt Associates, Inc., is a nonprofit organization that promotes the art quilt as a creative visual work layered and stitched or that references this form of stitched layered structure. Over its 35 years, SAQA has grown into an active community of over 4,000 artists, curators, collectors, and art professionals located around the world. The first “byCONTRAST” exhibition (2023/24) drew praise in Old Forge, Binghamton, and Ossining, New York. The current show debuted in Rochester before traveling to Old Forge, N.Y.; following the Trenton City Museum show, it returns to Rochester, then concludes in Ossining, N.Y. More information on SAQA is found at saqa.com.
Trenton City Museum is housed in Ellarslie Mansion, an 1848 Italianate villa in the heart of Trenton’s historic Cadwalader Park, which was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. The building is owned by the City of Trenton and operated by the nonprofit Trenton Museum Society, founded in 1973. The museum explores and celebrates Trenton’s history and culture, showcases contemporary art, artists, and performers, and offers community events, classes, and workshops for all ages.
Hours are Thursday through Saturday, 12 to 4 p.m.; and Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m. There is no admission to view exhibits; donations are welcomed.
To learn more about “byCONTRAST” and related programming, visit ellarslie.org or call (609) 989-1191.
Artists and members reception Saturday, January 10, 2 to 4 p.m. $10 to attend reception (free for museum members and participating artists). ellarslie.org; 609-989-1191; tms@ellarslie.org.