State Museum announces artists selected for “In the Making: Contemporary Craft from South Carolina”
April 9, 2026
The upcoming exhibition will highlight 12 South Carolina-based artists.
The South Carolina State Museum announced the selection of 12 artists from across the state for the upcoming juried exhibition, In the Making: Contemporary Craft from South Carolina, opening October 10, 2026. The exhibition will coincide with the museum’s annual Artist Homecoming event, which will take place October 8-9, 2026.
Organized as part of Handwork 2026: Celebrating American Craft, a nationwide initiative led by Craft in America, the exhibition will highlight South Carolina-based artists working in fiber, ceramics, wood, metal, glass, mixed media and other fine craft media. The exhibition will feature new works alongside recent pieces, offering a look at the depth and versatility of contemporary craft practices across South Carolina.
“This exhibition celebrates the incredible range of talent and creativity happening across South Carolina,” said Maia Payne, associate art curator at the State Museum. “We’re excited to showcase both established and emerging artists who are shaping the future of contemporary craft in our state.”
The artists selected were Jim Arendt (Conway, SC), Kristy Bishop (Charleston, SC), Clay Burnette (Columbia, SC), Katty Cassel (Greenville, SC), Bill and Pam Clark (Greenville, SC), Charles Clary (Conway, SC), Jessica Downs (Clemson, SC), Matt Garton (Hanahan, SC), Bill Harris (McConnells, SC), Christine Tedesco (Clemson, SC), Jennifer York (Charleston, SC), and Valerie Zimany (Clemson, SC). To learn more about the artist, visit scmuseum.org.
Artists were selected based on the strength of their portfolios by a panel of jurors that included Rebecca Elliot, associate curator of craft, design and fashion at the Mint Museum in Charlotte, North Carolina; Maia Payne; Harriett Green, former visual arts director of the South Carolina Arts Commission; and Ariel Zaccheo, curatorial director of the Museum of Craft and Design in San Francisco, California. To learn more about the jurors, visit scmuseum.org.
Final works for the exhibition will be selected during studio visits, with the possibility for artists to create new pieces specifically for the show. Final selections will be made by the Museum’s curatorial staff.
In the Making: Contemporary Craft from South Carolina will open to the public on October 10, 2026. For more information about the exhibition, artists, and jurors, visit scmuseum.org.
About the South Carolina State Museum
Since opening in 1988, the South Carolina State Museum has been committed to collecting, preserving and showcasing the rich culture, art, natural history, technology and innovation of the Palmetto State. Through a comprehensive collection of over 1.1 million objects and four floors of stimulating exhibitions and displays housed within the historic Columbia Mills Building, the State Museum provides educational environments that entertain, inspire and enrich the lives of millions of visitors and students from across South Carolina. For more information about the museum, visit scmuseum.org.
