State Museum’s In the Making: Contemporary Craft from South Carolina Exhibition opens October 10
September 23, 2026
The Museum’s first juried exhibition since 2018 showcases 12 South Carolina artists and the evolving story of contemporary craft across the state.
Next month, the South Carolina State Museum will open In the Making: Contemporary Craft from South Carolina, a new juried exhibition celebrating the depth, diversity and evolution of contemporary craft in the Palmetto State.
“This exhibition celebrates the incredible range of talent and creativity happening across South Carolina,” said SCSM Art Curator Maia Payne. “These artists pushed the boundaries of contemporary craft while also maintaining connections to tradition, place and personal experience. We’re excited to bring their work together and share these stories with audiences from across the state and beyond.”
The artists featured in the exhibition are Jim Arendt (Conway, SC), Kristy Bishop (Charleston, SC), Clay Burnette (Columbia, SC), Katy Cassell (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).
The exhibition is a result of a nearly two-year effort by Payne and the Museum’s curatorial and content staff to identify and showcase living contemporary makers from across South Carolina. Nearly 100 artists submitted portfolios for consideration by a panel of jurors representing local, regional, and national perspectives. Artists were evaluated based on craftsmanship, technical skill, artistic voice, originality, and the ways their work expands contemporary craft.
Following the selection process, the Museum’s curatorial, project management, collections, and communications teams travelled across the state for two rounds of studio visits; meeting with artists, documenting their work through videos and photos, and determining which pieces would be featured in the exhibition. The studio visits revealed the variety of ways South Carolina artists are approaching contemporary craft while providing a glimpse into the creative process behind each work. Several of the artists created new original works specifically for In the Making, helping the exhibition not only be a showcase of contemporary craft in South Carolina, but also a reflection of the creative journeys of each artist.
The exhibition also will serve as the centerpiece for the Museum’s Artist Homecoming: Elements of Craft event, taking place Oct. 8-9. The two-day gathering will begin with a free opening reception for the exhibition, followed by a ticketed event on Oct. 9 that will feature artist-led conversations, experiences, hands-on activities, and opportunities to connect with the exhibition and the artists featured in it.
In the Making: Contemporary Craft from South Carolina will be on view inside of the Museum’s Lipscomb Art Gallery until June 27, 2027. Access to the exhibition is included with Museum general or membership. For more information about the exhibition, featured artists, and Artist Homecoming, 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
