Banner image: Courtesy of Mark Sfirri

  

2024 Connectivity Exhibitions

Exhibition spaces throughout Philadelphia present the most honored and innovative artists working today in wood, clay, fiber, metal, and glass. Each November, CraftNOW highlights exhibits in museums, galleries, and other spaces to correspond with the Philadelphia Museum of Art Contemporary Craft Show showcasing Philadelphia as an urban destination for craft and making.

In 2024, CraftNOW presents the theme Connectivity which explores family, community, and how craft connects us in an increasingly divided world. We will ask how individual makers, artists, and scholars first connected to craft and how it has shaped their lives.  We will also look into how the world of craft connects to other practices and communities: design, media, science, and public health. 

* Check gallery website for current exhibition.

Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens

Walking Round My Head: Works by Stephen Wright

The Clay Studio

Future of Clay

 

Museum for Art in Wood

Mark Sfirri: La Famiglia

 

The Center for Emerging Visual Artists (CFEVA)

SWITCH: Small Works Cash & Carry

 

InLiquid

Brilliance in the Mundane

 

 

 

DVAA (Da Vinci Art Alliance)

Finding Healing In The Remnants

 

DVAA (Da Vinci Art Alliance)

Materialize

 

 

PENTIMENTI

To Be Bound By Places And Lore

 

 

Paradigm Gallery + Studio

Ulla-Stina Wikander: Communication

 

 

Gravers Lane Gallery

Across Ten Thousand Mountains 万重山

 

 

Paradigm Gallery + Studio

Work by Yoonmi Nam

 

 

The Museum for Art in Wood

FLOE: A Climate of Risk (FLOE), by world-renowned sculpture and installation artist Stephen Talasnik. A Philadelphia native, his latest exhibition features an in situ installation includes an original large-scale sculpture and curated selection of art Talasnik chose from the Museum’s permanent collection. FLOE is centered around a specific, fictional narrative highlighting the looming threat of climate change.

The Galleries at Moore

The Galleries at Moore support Moore College of Art & Design’s educational mission and role as a cultural leader by providing a forum for exploring contemporary art and ideas, and enriching the artistic and intellectual climate of the college, the Greater Philadelphia community, and beyond. As a gateway between the College and the city of Philadelphia, The Galleries are a catalyst for creative exploration, experimentation and scholarship and function as a gathering place to meet, reflect, learn, challenge, and create—our commitment to academic, artistic, and curatorial freedoms is evidenced through our inclusive and innovative programming, all of which is free and open to the public. The Galleries build community through dialogue and participation, and inspire an appreciation for the visual arts as a vital force in shaping contemporary culture.

The Clay Studio

One of the world’s leading ceramic art institutions, The Clay Studio supports the ceramic arts through their artist residency program, gallery, in-store and online shop, school, and outreach program.

Wayne Art Center

Established in 1930 as the first art center in the Main Line suburbs of Philadelphia, Wayne Art Center offers instruction for all ages in a variety of creative arts. Presented annually, Craft Forms is internationally recognized as a premiere contemporary craft exhibition.

Da Vinci Art Alliance

Founded in 1931, DVAA is an intergenerational community space and art gallery with the core mission of Building Community Through Art. We foster an artist membership that both showcases individual voices and encourages collective collaboration, providing monthly exhibitions and programming, all at no cost to visitors. Throughout the year, we regularly partner with individuals, organizations, institutions, and businesses around the city to further spotlight the diverse talents held by our Philadelphia neighbors and how our interests align.

Moderne Gallery

Moderne Gallery has been internationally renowned for its high quality, vintage 20th Century furniture, lighting and accessories since 1984.

Wharton Esherick Museum

Wharton Esherick has been called the link between the Arts and Crafts Movement and the resurgent interest in furniture making following World War II. The Studio and Museum invite visitors to explore his ongoing legacy.

Paradigm Gallery + Studio

Paradigm Gallery + Studio provides an artistic space for both the visual and performing arts, with a focus on emerging to established Philadelphia-based visual artists and makers.

National Liberty Museum

An impressive collection of glass art is highlighted at the National Liberty Museum. Visitors are invited to interact with incredible stories of heroes and a collection of contemporary art.

Pentimenti

Pentimenti Gallery features content-driven contemporary art that challenges traditional aesthetics and materials by a line of internationally established artists alongside up-and-coming talent

Wexler Gallery

Challenging the traditional labels that categorize art, Wexler Gallery exhibits work that coexists in the expressive realms of design, fine art and contemporary glass and ceramics.

Fabric Workshop and Museum

The Fabric Workshop and Museum invites renowned contemporary artists to experiment with fabric and other innovative uses of materials and media.

Gravers Lane Gallery

Inspired by the concept of modern heirlooms, Gravers Lane Gallery strives to provide unparalleled craft and concept from some of today’s most innovative artists.

Philadelphia's Magic Gardens

Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens is a nonprofit art museum and gallery space located in Isaiah Zagar’s art environment spanning half a city block.

InLiquid

InLiquid mobilizes the visual arts culture of the greater Philadelphia region in order to unite communities, establish wider audiences for artists and craftspeople, and facilitate relationships between makers and collectors.

American Swedish Historical Museum

The American Swedish Historical Museum is a community dedicated to preserving and interpreting material culture, and is alive with celebrations, exhibitions, and learning experiences.

Exhibition History

 

2022  Public | Private Exhibition 

Exhibition spaces throughout Philadelphia present the most honored and innovative artists working today in wood, clay, fiber, metal, and glass. Each November, CraftNOW highlights exhibits in museums, galleries, and other spaces to correspond with the Philadelphia Museum of Art Contemporary Craft Show showcasing Philadelphia as an urban destination for craft and making.

View Exhibitions >

2021 Environmental Effects

In 2021, CraftNOW explores the theme of Environmental Effects, examining how communities and interiors shape our experiences, sustainability issues expressed through craft, and the greater impact of our contemporary material culture.

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2020 Cultures of Making

In 2020, the exhibition venues listed here had been in varying stages of scheduling due to the outbreak of COVID-19. Click to discover how CraftNOW partners continued to adapt and remain dedicated to their programming.

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2019 Craft Capital

In 2019, CraftNOW adopted the theme Craft Capital for its fifth year of programming with the definition of “capital” interpreted broadly for its relation to place, economics, resources, and prominence. This theme synchronized with CraftNOW’s programming for the American Craft Council conference Present Tense hosted in Philadelphia and the debut of our second publication Craft Capital: Philadelphia’s Cultures of Making edited by Glenn Adamson.

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2018 Making a Difference

In 2018, CraftNOW presented Making a Difference, a series of thematic programming for visitors to use as a lens for exploring how craft promotes positive change, social cohesion and meaningful dialogue.

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2017 Fluid Boundaries

From November 1 to 12, CraftNOW invited participants to explore the art of the handmade and the Fluid Boundaries of contemporary craft practices with a two-week event series offering public exhibitions, lectures, interactive activities and special events throughout Philadelhia, most free to the general public.

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2016 Analog/Digital

Analog-Digital” was a multi-venue, concurrent series of exhibitions branded as part of CraftNOW.  The  thematic  approach  to  the  series  encouraged  visitors  to  explore  intersections  between  craft  and  technology and to discover how craft continues to evolve in the twenty-first century.  These exhibitions were open in the days and weeks surrounding the PMA Craft Show and were promoted by CraftNOW as  complementing opportunities for residents and visitors to see high quality craft exhibitions throughout  the City.

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2015 Masters of Craft

During CraftNOW’s inaugural year in 2015, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia Art Alliance, Center for Art in Wood and The Clay Studio honored 14 American Craft Council Fellows from Philadelphia who have had an enduring national impact through their works in wood, clay, fiber, metal, and glass.

Masters of Craft: American Craft Council Fellows in Philadelphia is documented, in its entirety, with a 160-page publication, including essays, artist profiles, and a full-color catalog of the included works. To purchase your hard copy today, email your request to info@centerforartinwood.org. You can also view the catalog free of charge online at the link below.

View Catalog >