I agree -- if you make a ton of half square triangles and put them on the design wall turning them this way and that to get the different patterns, this is art. If you sit at your machine to relax, then this is hobby. How great it is that with quilting we can do both -- how satisfying is that. Right now I am trying to straighten out my sewing areas (yes, I have spill over into three areas) and just getting re-aquainted with my fabric is an an ahhhhhh moment. Ith is certainly better than drugs to have a creative, artisitc hobby that challenges both sides of your brain (remember -- we have a lot of math disguised as buying yardage and cutting pieces) and relaxes you at the same time.

Just an an artist ( painter) selects his palete and form so does a quilter.

I consider it both. I guess it depends on whether or not you use your imagination. If you follow a pattern "verbatim", then it's someone elses "art" and you are just copying their works. If you change it to your likes/needs/designs/fabrics/etc...that makes it yours and makes it art. It is really an "OBSESSION" rather than a hobby tho! I was told that before I ever got into quilting...they were right!

What a strange comment!? Hobby and art are not mutually exclusive.
A more relevant question would be - is quilting a craft of an art?

I consider quilting an art form. A hobby to me is like collecting teapots or trainspotting....(not disparaging either hobby, just using as an example). Any activity which involves putting elements together or manipulating them to create something of utility or beauty is art. If you take a lump of rock and carve a statue....it is art....quilters just have fabric as a medium. I don't see a degree in fibre arts or design to be any less relevant than a degree in any other field.

Your friend is exhibiting a common prejudice. If it is a "domestic skill" it isn't "art". Chefs are culinary artists but the home maker is not even if their offerings are of the same level as a chef.

Yes, quilting is an art. I, unfortunately, am not an artist. I try. Mostly I just sew but that is good enough for me and mine.

I have a friend who took a class in oil painting. She did one painting and it hangs in her foyer. When asked she says, "Yes, that is one of mine." She only did one but it is enough to make others call her an artist.

YOu are an artist.

both, I think it depends what type of quilts you make, but it can be both

and/or a profession

My vote is "both."

I am going to say both. Every artist starts with a blank canvas, ours just happens to be a pile of fabric waiting to be cut and sewn. Sewing is my hobby but it is my blank canvas to create something amazing and beautiful, rather it is just for me.