Celebrate Contemporary Craft With Artists From Across the Country and the Launch of Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026

The Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA) Contemporary Craft Show returns this fall for its 49th year, once again bringing together some of the nation’s most talented makers, designers, and artists. Recognized as one of the premier craft shows in the country, the event offers visitors the rare opportunity to engage directly with artists, discover one-of-a-kind works, and explore the evolving landscape of contemporary craft.

This year’s show carries special significance as it partners with the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding, marking an exciting collaboration that bridges history, culture, and artistry.

Spotlight on American Craft: A Semiquincentennial Collaboration

In anticipation of America’s Semiquincentennial in 2026, the PMA Craft Show is proud to introduce a new national initiative: Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026. This project will shine a spotlight on the role of craft in shaping American identity, showcasing the skills, stories, and traditions that connect makers across generations.

Through this collaboration, the PMA Craft Show expands beyond its Philadelphia roots, joining a national dialogue that honors creativity, heritage, and the future of handmade design in America.

What Visitors Can Expect

• Over 200 Juried Artists: Discover works spanning jewelry, ceramics, wood, fiber, glass, and mixed media.
• Meet the Makers: Engage with artists from across the United States who will be present to discuss their processes and inspirations.
• Exclusive Debuts: Be among the first to experience new works created especially for this landmark year.
• Special Programs: Panels, demonstrations, and installations connected to Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026.

Why It Matters

For nearly five decades, the PMA Craft Show has been more than an exhibition—it has been a celebration of creativity, innovation, and community. This year’s connection to the Semiquincentennial underscores the role of craft as a living expression of America’s past, present, and future.

As Philadelphia prepares to host the nation for the 250th anniversary, the PMA Craft Show offers a timely reminder of the enduring power of artistry and the importance of supporting handmade work.

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Philadelphia, PA (September 11, 2025) – The 49th annual Philadelphia Museum of Art Contemporary Craft Show returns to the Pennsylvania Convention Center this fall. Running from Friday, November 7, 2025, to Sunday, November 9, 2025, with a Preview Party on Thursday, November 6, 2025, guests will explore the unique and diverse array of art on display and available for purchase from every artist.

The 49th annual show will feature 195 talented artists from across the United States, selected by a premier jury. The artists chosen span 13 disciplines, from metal to basketry to paper, with several artists showcasing in multiple categories. All artists’ work is available for purchase, and each artist will keep all of the proceeds from their sales.

In addition to the artists on display, Craft in America will be launching Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026 at the PMA Craft Show, in honor of the semiquincentennial next year. Handwork is an initiative designed to celebrate the diversity of crafts that define America and its history. This year-long collaboration will combine organizations, exhibits, educators, and makers, all in the celebration of craft.
“Hosting the launch of Handwork to celebrate the history of craft in our country is an honor. In an increasingly manufactured time, we understand the importance of highlighting handmade, and we feel grateful to be able to showcase our esteemed mix of artists and their handmade creations to the Philadelphia community,” said Nancy O’Meara, Craft Show Manager.Over the past 49 years, The Craft Show has continued to highlight the creativity and diversity of contemporary craftwork. The Craft Show has raised over $15 million to support the Philadelphia Museum of Art and its various education programs, special exhibitions, acquisitions for the permanent collection, and other programs. For those interested in attending this year’s show, tickets are on sale now. All ticket sales will continue to support these various initiatives at the museum. 

Some of the artists that guests can see at this year’s Craft Show include:  

Rowell Concepcion, an emerging artist at this year’s show, is a milliner who uses traditional millinery techniques to create unique hats for fashion-forward individuals. His work has been seen on the Met Gala red carpet and on the covers of Elle and Tidal Magazine.

So Young Park crochets metal wire into 3D sculptures that she says mimic organic life: a single stitch is insignificant on its own, but combined with thousands, it creates an organism. 

Debra Adelson is a jewelry designer from Collingswood, New Jersey, focused on working only with sustainable materials. Sculpting both new and upcycled glass, she creates jewelry pieces that explore environmental issues and blur the lines between manmade and natural.

Georgette Sanders combines pottery and basketry to create unique pieces with materials collected from the South Carolina forests. She follows the long tradition of sweetgrass basketry, derived from West Africa and preserved by the Geechee Gullah people.

Eric Doctors’ ceramic work is a bold celebration of form, color, and balance. With an aesthetic that bridges mid-century modern sensibilities and contemporary playfulness, Doctors creates pieces that are at once sculptural and functional. His signature style features exaggerated geometric shapes—bulbous, stacked, and symmetrical—brought to life with high-gloss finishes in vivid, saturated hues like electric blue, lime green, and punchy orange.

David Levy’s furniture is a masterful blend of craftsmanship, playfulness, and modernist elegance. His work showcases a deep respect for wood as a medium, often combining different species to highlight contrast and grain in sculptural, functional forms. Whether crafting a minimalist chair with gracefully curved legs or an intricate multi-game table featuring backgammon, chess, and other classic games, Levy brings a sense of refinement and precision to every detail. The pieces are not just furniture—they are interactive art objects that invite touch, engagement, and admiration for their design integrity and innovative spirit.

Clara Schulte’s textile work brings a quiet sophistication to the art of weaving, celebrating subtle textures, natural tones, and the rhythm of hand-crafted pattern. Her pieces—ranging from intricately patterned pillows to soft, inviting throws—reflect a deep respect for traditional techniques while embracing a contemporary minimalist aesthetic. Schulte’s woven designs speak in a language of tactility and comfort, where each thread contributes to a larger story of calm, balance, and intentional design. Whether layered in a home or displayed as standalone art, her textiles exude a timeless warmth and understated elegance.

All photos of art are Courtesy of the 2025 PMA Craft Show

For more information on The PMA Contemporary Craft Show, follow them on Instagram (@pmacraftshow), Facebook (Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show), and TikTok (@pma.craft.show). For more information, you can visit pmacraftshow.org.