Mississippi-based artist Coulter Fussell turns donated, discarded, and once-loved textiles into exuberant, improvisational quilts that carry memory, conflict, beauty, and joy. From river towns to war zones, soft sculpture to Snapchat videos, Coulter’s layered works ask us to consider what we throw away, what we hold onto, and what makes something worth remembering.
I don’t have to make connections – I know they’re already there. I’m just discovering them. That’s what I’m trying to do in my work.
– Coulter Fussell
Takeaways from this episode
- Fabric is a form of memory.
From childhood blankets to mass-produced prints, Coulter’s use of donated textiles allows viewers to bring their own associations to each piece. “If there’s a connection at all – and there usually is – then the job is done for me.”
- Improvisation doesn’t mean randomness.
While her work may look spontaneous, every decision is deliberate. “There’s nothing I didn’t mean to do. Every thread that looks out of place – I put it there.”
- Beauty and meaning can coexist.
Through ruffles, bows, shiny satins, and soft textures, Coulter leans into the aesthetics of prettiness without apology. These elements, often dismissed, are reclaimed as sculptural and significant.
- Quilting holds cultural, political, and emotional weight.
In series like River Quilts and War Quilts, Coulter layers personal and collective histories – from Southern textile towns to military life – all without telling the viewer what to think. “It’s about war and love and conflict and human beings, but I’m not interested in telling anybody how to vote.”
- Abundance tells a story.
Coulter’s studio, filled with years of donated materials, reflects not just a practice of sustainability, but a portrait of modern excess and emotional inheritance. “People bring me things they feel too guilty to throw away. I give it a little further life.”
Explore the artwork from this episode below
During the live interview, we shared some images of Coulter’s artwork. Since you’re listening to the podcast version, we’ve made these images available for you below.
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