2026 Awards PRESENTED ON PREVIEW NIGHT
AWARD JUDGES
Jane Carpenter-Rock, Acting Margaret and Terry Stent Director, Smithsonian American Art Museum
Sarah Cash, Associate Curator, American and British Paintings at National Gallery of Art
Lois Jecklin, Former Executive President of the Visiting Artist Series, and current Board member, Craft in America
JUDGED AWARDS
Lloyd E. Herman Best in Show Award:
Robert Farrell (Metal) (Booth 134)
Donors: Jana and Lawrence Hough, Timothy Harr
Gold Award—The Susie Gray Founder’s Award:
Wendy Ellertson (Leather) (Booth 227)
Donor: Geoffrey Gray, given in loving memory of Susie Gray, SWC member and founder of the Smithsonian Craft Show, and selected by Geoffrey Gray
Silver Award:
Stephen and Tamberlaine Zeh (Basketry and Jewelry) (Booth 120B)
Donor: Jere Gibber and J.G. Harrington
Bronze Award:
Bashar and Roula Jarjour (Ceramics) (Booth 228)
Donors: Diane and Marc Grainer
Excellence in Jewelry Award:
Namu and Jin Cho (Booth 109)
Donor: Ornament Magazine, given in loving memory of Carolyn L.E. Benesh, and selected by Patrick R. Benesh-Liu and Robert K. Liu
Excellence in Ceramics Award:
Sandra Byers (Booth 212)
Donor: Kate Hughes, given in loving memory of John F. Christian
New Direction - Excellence in Design of the Future Award:
Kimberly Allison (Ceramics) (Booth 337)
Donor: Kate Nemec Simonds
First-Time Artist Award:
Michael Earley (Wood) (Booth 136)
Donor: 2026 Preview Night Host Committee
ARTISTS’ CHOICE AWARDS
These awards are voted on by the artists and presented on Friday, April 24, at 3:00pm.
Gold Award:
Rachel E. David (Metal) (Booth 334)
Donors: Martha and David Martin
Silver Award:
Laura S. Fortune (Jewelry) (Booth 122)
Donors: Louise C. Millikan and Amy F. Meadows, given in loving memory of Margaret C. Collins and to honor her many years of service
Bronze Award:
Katie Strachan (Ceramics) (Booth 404)
Donor: Lisa Nye Dawson
AWARD JUDGES
Kate Markert Executive Director of Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens
Tim Tate Co-Founder of the Washington Glass School
Leslie Umberger Curator of Folk and Self-Taught Art at the Smithsonian American Art Museum
JUDGED AWARDS
Lloyd E. Herman Best in Show Award: Yeonsoo Kim (Booth 505) (Ceramics)
Donors: Jana and Lawrence Hough, Timothy Harr
Gold Award — The Susie Gray Founder’s Award: Eric Serritella (Boot 126) (Mixed Media)
Donor: Geoffrey Gray, given in loving memory of Susie Gray, SWC member and founder of the Smithsonian Craft Show
Silver Award: Rob Greene (Booth 112) (Jewelry)
Donor: Jere Gibber and J.G. Harrington
Bronze Award: Mina Norton (Booth 110) (Wearable Art)
Donors: Diane and Marc Grainer
Excellence in Jewelry Award: Anna Johnson (Booth 307)
Donor: Ornament Magazine, given in loving memory of Carolyn L.E. Benesh, and selected by Patrick R. Benesh-Liu and Robert K. Liu
Excellence in Ceramics Award: Teresa Chang (Booth 107)Donor: Kate Hughes, given in loving memory of John F. Christian
New Direction - Excellence in Design of the Future Award: Jonah Meyer (Booth 406) (Furniture)
Donor: Kate Nemec Simonds
Honoring the Future® Sustainability Award: Trey Jones (Booth 221) (Furniture)
Donor: Honoring the Future®, a project of the Open Space Institute, and selected by Wendy Maruyama
First-Time Artist Award: Ian Petrie (Booth 306) (Ceramics)
Donor: 2025 Preview Night Host Committee
ARTISTS’ CHOICE AWARDS
Gold Award: Leo Reinhard (Booth 316) (Metal)
Donors: Martha and David Martin
Silver Award: Robert Farrell (Booth 132) (Metal)
Donors: Louise C. Millikan and Amy F. Meadows, given in loving memory of Margaret C. Collins and to honor her many years of service
Bronze Award: Jennifer McCurdy (Booth 215) (Ceramics)
Donor: Lisa Nye Dawson