The Human Connection in Every Stitch: Bisa Butler’s Hold Me Close at Jeffrey Deitch
The crowd spilling out onto Santa Monica Boulevard and the line just to get inside said it all. Bisa Butler’s first solo show in Los Angeles, Hold Me Close, at Jeffrey Deitch, isn't just an art exhibition, it's an event. The opening night was buzzing with people eager to see the work up close, a testament to how her art resonates on a deep level.
Walking through the gallery, you're immediately struck by the sheer scale and vibrancy of the pieces. They're big, they pop, and they have this incredible texture that makes you want to get closer, to trace the patterns and feel the fabrics. Butler’s technique is what sets her apart. She doesn’t paint; she quilts. She uses layers of different fabrics, batiks, African prints, cotton, velvet, like a painter uses color and brushstrokes. The way she layers these materials gives each portrait a a life and a feeling of movement that paintings just can't replicate. You can see how the different textures and sheens of the fabric catch the light, creating a sense of dimension that’s almost sculptural. It's a true mash up of fine art and traditional craft.
What’s so compelling about the pieces in Hold Me Close is how intimate and emotionally charged they are. Her quilts are more than just portraits; they're stories. She often works from old black and white photographs, breathing new life and color into them. In doing so, she’s not just depicting a person, but an entire history and a feeling. You can see it in the way her subjects look at you, how they hold themselves, how they lean into one another.
The show feels like a powerful statement on connection and community. You see couples holding each other, a mother and a child, a group of people at a social gathering. It’s all about tenderness and shared human experience, which feels particularly important right now. The pieces are a reminder of the power of community, of leaning on each other. The way she uses different patterns and fabrics for skin tones isn’t just an artistic choice, it feels like a celebration of the multifaceted nature of Black identity, creating a visual tapestry that is both deeply personal and universally relatable.
The energy of the opening night mirrored the work itself, a lively, vibrant gathering of people coming together to celebrate art that is both visually stunning and emotionally resonant. It’s a powerful experience to stand in a room full of people, all sharing in the moment, looking at art that feels like it’s looking right back at you. Bisa Butler’s work is a masterclass in turning fabric into feeling, and Hold Me Close is an exhibition that definitely needs to be seen in person.
Bisa Butler: Hold Me Close
September 13–November 1, 2025
7000 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles
Opening reception: September 13, 2025, 6-8 pm
