ARTCESTRYFree craft show opens at the Renwick on 13 November
The Renwick Gallery opens a free show of 53 craft works on 13 November.
- Dates
- Opens 13 November 2026
- Opening hours
- Daily, 10.00 to 17.30
- Entry
- Free
- Where
- Renwick Gallery, Washington, DC
Why it matters
Entry is free and the gallery opens daily from 10.00 to 17.30, so a visit costs only time. Some works are new to the collection.
You can walk into the Renwick Gallery in Washington on 13 November and see 53 craft works for free. The gallery is shut now while staff get the show ready. When it opens, the doors stay open daily from 10.00 to 17.30.
Handwork: Contemporary Craft draws on the Smithsonian American Art Museum's own collection. Some works are new to that collection. Craft in America organised Handwork 2026 with the Renwick. It says the year ends in November with this show.
That year-long programme is timed to the 250th birthday of the United States. It runs across all 50 states and Puerto Rico. More than 280 organisations take part, with shows, residencies, classes and public events.
What you will see
The lead image is a tiara by Jan Yager, made in 2006 from 18- and 14-karat gold, oxidized sterling silver and a quartz pebble. It comes from the series City Flora: The Philadelphia Series, and its shape is a flower.
New works come from Roberto Benavidez, Angela Ellsworth, Bill Harris, Aya Oki and Ato Ribeiro. Diego Romero and Jan Yager are on that list too. The online gallery for the show lists older pieces as well. Those include Wendell Castle's Ghost Clock from 1985 and Sam Maloof's Rocker from 1980. A Charles Loloma bracelet from about 1970 is there too. That makes plenty to see in one visit.
The context
The Renwick has explored what craft means in American culture since it opened in 1972. The works in the show are meant to spark links with the other art on view. Support for the show comes from Rebecca Ravenal and The Ravenal Foundation, and from Todd Wingate and Steven Cason.
Plan your visit
The gallery stands on Pennsylvania Avenue at 17th Street, NW, in Washington, DC. Entry is free. A free open house runs on opening day, from 11.00 to 14.00 Eastern time. The museum asks guests to register first.
Our view
We think a free show is a fair way to learn how craft is made and valued.
My own craft skills stop at a lopsided mug, so I will keep my distance.
Would you visit?
Provenance
- Handwork: Contemporary Craft at the Renwick Gallery - Smithsonian American Art Museum | Smithsonian American Art Museum
- Handwork 2026: 250 years of craft in the United States of America – Craft In America | Craft in America
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