Houston Center for Contemporary Craft (HCCC) announces its call for artists for the upcoming exhibition, CraftTexas 2025, the twelfth show in a long-running series of juried exhibitions showcasing the finest in Texas-made contemporary craft. All artists working in clay, fiber, glass, metal, wood, and found/recycled materials are encouraged to apply via the online application, open February 1 – April 30, 2025.

On view September 6, 2025 – January 9, 2026, the exhibition provides an introduction for the general public to develop an appreciation for the depth and breadth of craft being made in their local communities and across the state. This unique show also provides Texas artists with the opportunity to be considered for inclusion in major national museum and private collections.

CraftTexas 2025 will be juried by Abraham Thomas. From positions in arts institutions on both sides of the Atlantic, Abraham Thomas has curated exhibitions spanning architecture, fashion, craft, film and more. Since 2020, he has been the Daniel Brodsky Curator of Modern Architecture, Design, and Decorative Arts at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. He previously worked at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., first as the Fleur and Charles Bresler Curator-in-Charge of the Renwick Gallery, and then as Senior Curator at the Arts and Industries Building.

Thomas has curated or co-curated exhibitions including “Materialized Space: The Architecture of Paul Rudolph” (The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2024), “Heatherwick Studio: Designing the Extraordinary” (V&A, 2012), “A Higher Ambition: Owen Jones” (V&A, 2009), “Disrupting Craft” (Renwick Gallery, 2018) and “Superstructures: The New Architecture 1960–90” (Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, 2018). Before moving to the United States, he was director of Sir John Soane’s Museum in London. In 2014, during his tenure at the Soane, Thomas was selected for Apollo’s 40 Under 40 Europe list. He is on the jury for the Loewe Foundation Craft Prize (2022-present) and is a trustee of the Penland School of Craft in North Carolina.

Online Application Open February 1 – April 30, 2025
Artists can learn more and apply here:
https://crafthouston.org/exhibitions/crafttexas-application/

Artist Eligibility

• CraftTexas 2025 is open to craft artists currently residing in Texas.
• The following craft media is accepted: clay, fiber, glass, metal, wood, and found/recycled materials.
• Each artist may submit up to three (3) original works completed within the last two (2) years.
• Work must be available for the duration of the show and may not be withdrawn from the exhibition at any time prior to the closing date of January 9, 2026.
• Crated work must fit through a 4′ x 8′ door, and actual work may not exceed 200 pounds in weight.
• Work cannot have been exhibited at HCCC in the past.

Awards

• Three (3) Award of Merit prizes of $1000 each will be selected by the juror.

Online Application Process

• All applications must be completed and submitted online via Slideroom.
• Applications will be accepted February 1 through April 30, 2025 (Midnight, Central Standard Time).
• Incomplete or late applications will not be accepted.

Submission Materials

• Artist statement (maximum of 1000 characters).
• Artists may enter up to three (3) pieces of work. Artists should submit only one (1) digital image per work, for a total of up to three (3) images. All images must be in high-resolution .jpeg format meaning at least 4 x 6 inches at 300 dpi. DO NOT submit detail images.

Jury Process
Work submitted to CraftTexas 2025 will be juried via the Slideroom system using high-resolution digital images. Images must be accurate representations of the work. Accepted work that differs significantly from the images may be rejected at the discretion of HCCC. No substitutions of accepted work will be allowed.

Accepted Work

• Notification of acceptance will be on or before May 26, 2025.
• Accepted work must arrive to HCCC between Monday, August 18, and Friday, August 29, 2025. Please make proper arrangements for delivery or with your shipper to ensure arrival dates.
• All work will be installed by professional staff and may not be shown at the discretion of HCCC’s curatorial department. Packaging and artworks must be in good condition and able to withstand the strains of transportation. Work must be properly packaged for travel; wooden crates or double-boxed cardboard containers are highly recommended.
• Artists are responsible for transit and insurance of accepted work to the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft. HCCC will not accept COD shipments.
• HCCC will provide insurance for all works while they are exhibited on site and upon their return to the artist.
• HCCC reserves the right to photograph and distribute any images of work in the exhibition for educational or publicity purposes, via electronic or print media of any kind.
• HCCC may use the images submitted for the jury process for educational and publicity purposes. Please ensure submitted images are professionally photographed and are print quality (minimum size of 300 dpi and 4 x 6 inches).

About Houston Center for Contemporary Craft
Houston Center for Contemporary Craft (HCCC) is a visual arts center dedicated to advancing education about the process, product, and history of craft. For more than 20 years, HCCC has showcased emerging and acclaimed artists in exhibitions, introduced visitors of all ages to contemporary craft through hands-on programming, and supported the development of working artists through its artist residency and retail programs.

HCCC is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 AM – 5 PM. HCCC will be closed to the public December 25 – January 1 for winter holidays. HCCC is also closed on Easter, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, July 4th, and Labor Day. Admission is free. HCCC is located in the Museum District at 4848 Main Street, three blocks south of highway 59. Free parking is available in the lot located directly behind the facility, off Rosedale and Travis Streets.

HCCC is supported by individual donors and members and funded in part by The Brown Foundation; Houston Endowment, Inc.; the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance; Texas Commission on the Arts; the National Endowment for the Arts, the Kinder Foundation; the Morgan Foundation; Windgate Charitable Foundation; and the Wortham Foundation. HCCC is a member of the Houston Museum District and the Midtown Arts District.

For more information, call 713-529-4848 or visit http://www.crafthouston.org. Find HCCC on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @CraftHouston.