Promoting excellence in design and craftsmanship, stimulating interest and appreciation for fine craft.
Northwest Designer Craftartists (NWDC) was founded in 1954 to promote excellence of design and craftsmanship and to stimulate public appreciation and interest in fine craft. Artists in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Alaska, who work professionally in clay, wood, glass, metal, fiber, and/or mixed media, are members. Other members support the crafts in the Pacific Northwest as educators, managers of non-profit arts organizations, or buyers of art for public or private collections. Northwest Designer Craftartists is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
Images from works by Brian O’Neill, Elin Noble, Nanz Aalund, Marcia Selsor and Crista Van Slyck Matteson.
Meet our members and find an artist.
Detail from “Nameless” by Claire B. Jones
Handwork 2026
Shaped in the Northwest
Gallery at the Park
March 31 – May 1, 2026
Opening Reception: April 12, 2026
NWDC will contribute to Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026, a nationwide Semiquincentennial initiative honoring the enduring value of the handmade in both history and contemporary life. NWDC’s exhibitions will showcase the creativity of Northwest artists working in clay, wood, glass, metal, fiber, and mixed media. The series opens March 31st with the exhibition Handwork 2026: Shaped in the Northwest at Gallery at the Park in Richland, WA.
Vicki Piper Gerton and Ron Gerton serve as jurors for the Gallery at the Park exhibition. Vicki blends scientific observation with artistic intuition, creating work where color, texture, and pattern emerge through experimentation. Ron, a self-taught metalsmith and retired mechanical engineer, transforms natural objects such as leaves, insects, and wood into enduring sculptures, often combining them with wood turnings.
Exhibiting Artists:
Nanz Aalund, Karen Abel, Kadey Ambrose, Rob Beishline, Lanny Bergner, Danielle Bodine, Barb Burwell, Virginia Causey, Gina Fruen, Anthony Gaudino, Tom Gormally, Jill Green, Joan Hammond, Lois Harbaugh, Joyce Hayes, Katherine Holzknecht, Steve Jensen, Ann Johnston, Claire B Jones, Cara Jung, Bella Kim, Patti King, Margo Klass, Annetta Kraayeveld, Mary Lane, Katherine Lewis, Jan Lipetz, Nancy Loorem Adams, Rick Mahaffey, Barbara Mattews, Ree Nancarrow, Gabriela Nirino, Elin Noble, April Ottey, Katia Paroczi, Jane Pellicciotto, Candace Pratt, Seiko Purdue, Ellen Ramsy, Anne Randall, Kait Rhoads, Laura Schmidt, Sally Sellers, Julie Sevilla Drake, Denise Snyder, Rebecca Stansbury, Susan Cohen Thompson, Cynthia Toops, Mary Tyler, Barbara J. Walker, Mark Wedekind, Gale Lurie.
"Few places in this country can boast such a vibrant craft community... a reminder of the very special character of this region, and the dedication and talent of its makers."
— Nora Atkinson, Fleur and Charles Bresler, Curator-in-Charge for the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
Join The NWDC Fundraising Campaign
$50,000 Annually
Achieving a 5-Year Vision
We need your support achieve this vision.
All contributions are appreciated.
Vision
+ Advance fine craft art appreciation and interest across NWDC's whole five-state region.
+ Create exciting opportunities for NWDC members to advance their art presence, build their resumes, businesses, and entrepreneurship.
+ Support NWDC members with opportunities to market and sell their artwork both digitally and in each member state.
+ Continue producing Living Treasures documentaries, member artist talks and Business of Art videos.
+ Grow a diverse and inclusive NWDC juried membership, connecting with fine craft artists across the Pacific Northwest.
+ Facilitate member education, social networking, mentoring programs; and invited lectures teaming with art museums, galleries and arts institutions.
+ Create opportunities for members to teach their unique techniques, build income, and present their practice to a wider audience.
+ Develop strong financial means for NWDC to achieve its vision.
Upcoming events.
Stay connected with NWDC to see updates about member exhbitions, artist talks, workshops and other events focused on promoting fine craft.
The Living Treasures Project
As the pioneers of the contemporary craft movement reach an advanced age, it has become an urgent task to make a record of their lives, their work and their achievements. The Living Treasures Project is an ongoing series of video profiles made by NWDC in cooperation with Fidget Films, documenting the Northwest's most important and influential elder craft professionals. These are individuals with lifelong involvement in the arts and a history of personal generosity and outstanding leadership. They built institutions, taught fellow artists, and created important works that affected the direction of their fields. They are an inspiration to us all.
Images: “Bear’s Reliquary” by Ron Ho, background from a piece by NWDC Founder Robert Sperry
Follow NWDC on Social Media
View NWDC Artists Talks, Exhibitions, and more on our YouTube Channel and stay connected with our members on Instagram and Facebook.
