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Craft and Contemporary Art

by Makda AmdetsyonApril 25, 2025 2:30:08 total runtime

How do you define craft? Like defining contemporary art, defining craft is the least interesting part of the conversation. However, the definition of craft that I have found most useful combines the words of several scholars and artists: craft is the skilled and thoughtful act of process and/or material-oriented making.

Throughout the 20th century, museums, historians, and curators struggled with what to do with craft and, at several points, moved away from celebrating artisans and simply tucked craft into the belly of fine arts. Craft’s inability to find a home in the art world may be the reason it has been attractive to activists. We can look to contemporary craft artists, like those in the playlist below.

While watching these or any film about contemporary art, consider finding the craft through these questions:

How does the artist orient themselves to the material?
What lineage are they a part of?
Where do they show care?

Contemporary artists are the most adept at breaking boxes and revel in defying and challenging limitations and restraints.