May 3–July 3
The Ohio Craft Museum
August 25–October 7
Kent State University
The Ohio Craft Museum is pleased to present the “Best of 2026,” a juried exhibition showcasing contemporary fine craft by 69 artists, on view May 3–July 3, 2026. Juror Carol Sauvion, creator of the Peabody-award-winning PBS series, Craft in America, and the recently retired executive director of the Craft in America organization, selected 73 works in clay, glass, metal, wood, fiber and mixed media from nearly 400 entries. Thirteen artists received awards of excellence (see below) in Ohio Designer Craftsmen’s annual members competition.
“What a joyful experience it was to become familiar with new and vibrant manifestations of the best of contemporary craft, which has evolved tremendously in the past decades,” Sauvion said. “It was a pleasure to ‘meet’ many new artists, and I look forward to following their careers and staying in touch with the work being done so well and for such a long time by the Ohio Designer Craftsmen.”
The exhibition opens with a Sunday, May 3, reception from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the Ohio Craft Museum. Award recipients will be recognized at 3:00 pm. At that time, the Ohio Designer Craftsmen Outstanding Achievement Award will be presented to Wooster fiber artist Susan Shie. After closing at the Ohio Craft Museum on July 3, the exhibition will travel to the Kent State University CVA Gallery, where it will be on view August 25–October 7.
AWARDS
$3000 Challenge Award for Excellence
Hope is the thing with feathers, Cody F. Miller, Columbus OH
$3000 Yassenoff Family Award for Excellence & Watkins Printing Poster Award
She Held Her Breath, April Felipe, Albany OH
Director Emeritus Betty Talbott Award for Excellence
The Back Forty, Mike Kozumplik, Sherwood OH
Ruth Lantz Award for Excellence in Fiber
Eclipse, Kathie Roig, Dublin OH
Brian Lonsway Memorial Award for Humor in Craft
Breakfast is Served, Voicu Marian, Powell OH
Labino Memorial Award for Excellence in Glass
Downtown Akron Series #5, Anderson Turner, Akron OH
Sue Cavanaugh Memorial Award for Excellence
Gravity Particle, Molly Johnson, Chesterland OH
Award for Excellence in Metals
How to Make a Modernist Painting, Kristina Malcolm, Mogadore OH
Award for Excellence
Intertwine, Hannah Slagell, Columbus, OH
Phyllis Blair Clark Functional Ceramics Workshop Award for Excellence
Serving Tray & Strawberry Basket, Alison Lowery, Dayton OH
Ed Honton Memorial Award for Excellence
“Eva” Armchair & “Pick” Low Stool, Brian Millspaw, Westfield NY
Barbara Robinson Award for Excellence in Traditional Craft
Willow Armchair, Liz Hunt, Delaware OH
ODC Director’s Award for Excellence
Bottle Basket, Sam McCall, Athens OH
ODC Board of Trustees Emerging Craftsman Award
Ancient Rune, Lane Grigson, Cleveland Heights OH
Emerging Craftsman Scholarship Award in Memory of Julie Yassenoff
Santiago Mora, Columbus OH
The $1000 Artist Scholarship Award
Thin legged Vases, Eri Sugimoto, Lake Forest CA
This exhibition is part of
