For centuries, women across cultures and generations have passed down textile-making skills to their daughters, granddaughters, nieces, cousins, and other chosen kin. Now rich with symbolism and meaning, the materials and formal qualities of fiber art are employed by many women artists today to honor their female ancestors and the noble role of motherhood.

Featuring historic and contemporary works from the IMA at Newfields’ global collections, Daughter/Mother/Ancestor Threads of Connection explores the ways that women artists preserve intergenerational skill-sharing, manifest acts of care, and materialize familial love through longstanding traditions in textiles.