Best of Tennessee Craft
Best of Tennessee Craft: 2026 Biennial
October 24, 2026 – December 12, 2026
Art Museum of the University of Memphis
Reception: Oct. 24, 4-7 p.m. Awards Presentation at 5:30 p.m.
Best of Tennessee Craft: 2026 Biennial is Tennessee Craft’s premier juried exhibition, celebrating the extraordinary talent, vision, and craftsmanship of artists working across the state. Hosted at the Art Museum of the University of Memphis, this highly anticipated exhibition showcases outstanding contemporary and traditional craft by emerging and established Tennessee artists alike. From clay and fiber to wood, metal, glass, mixed media, and beyond, the Biennial highlights the innovation, skill, and creative spirit shaping craft in Tennessee today.
First launched shortly after Tennessee Craft’s founding in 1965, Best of Tennessee Craft is one of the state’s longest-running craft exhibitions. Created to encourage, develop, and promote crafts and craftspeople across Tennessee, the exhibition has, for decades, recognized exceptional handmade work while helping elevate the visibility of Tennessee artists and the importance of craft in the region’s cultural identity. Today, the Biennial continues that legacy by connecting artists to new audiences, opportunities, and professional recognition.
Artists selected for the exhibition will have the opportunity to present their work in a major museum setting, gain statewide recognition, and compete for $2,950 in cash awards. Guest juror Carol Sauvion – the visionary behind the landmark PBS series dedicated to documenting and celebrating American craft – will select exhibition works and award recipients. Her decades of leadership and advocacy have helped shape the national conversation around contemporary craft and elevated the visibility of artists across the country.
For Tennessee artists, Best of Tennessee Craft is more than an exhibition – it is a career-building opportunity to have your work seen, celebrated, and connected to a larger creative community. Applications are now open for all Tennessee artists ages 18 and older. You do not have to be a member of Tennessee Craft to apply.
Guest Juror
Carol Sauvion
Carol Sauvion is a lifelong advocate for American craft who began her career as a potter in Philadelphia, learning under artist Toshi Seeger. After years of creating and selling her own work at galleries and craft shows, she discovered her passion was championing the work of other artists.
In 1980, Sauvion opened Freehand Gallery in Los Angeles, dedicated to contemporary craft. Wanting to bring greater recognition to the field, she created the PBS series Craft in America, which premiered in 2007 and received a Peabody Award.
Today, Sauvion has retired from Craft in America, stepping down as Executive Director at the end of 2025 after more than two decades of leadership. A passionate believer in the power of making, Sauvion views craft as both a source of healing and a force for connection and community.
“Whatever happens, the handmade endures.”
Photo by By Mark Markley
