State Museum’s In the Making: Contemporary Craft from South Carolina Exhibition Opens Oct. 10

The South Carolina State Museum's 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, opens Oct. 10 in the Lipscomb Art Gallery.  

“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 exhibition will feature 12 South Carolina-based artists working across a wide range of media, including ceramics, fiber, wood, metal, glass, mixed media, and more. The exhibition is part of Handwork 2026: Celebrating American Craft, a nationwide initiative led by Craft in America that highlights the importance and continued evolution of these American art traditions.

The South Carolina artists featured in the exhibition are Jim Arendt (Conway), Kristy Bishop (Charleston), Clay Burnette (Columbia), Katy Cassell (Greenville), Bill and Pam Clark (Greenville), Charles Clary (Conway), Jessica Downs (Clemson), Matt Garton (Hanahan), Bill Harris (McConnells), Christine Tedesco (Clemson), Jennifer York (Charleston), and Valerie Zimany (Clemson).

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 traveled 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.