ANNOUNCING THE HONOREES

NOW ANNOUNCING THE 2025 SPRING CRAFT WEEKEND HONOREES 

​The James Renwick Alliance for Craft (JRACraft) is thrilled to announce the honorees for its annual Spring Craft Weekend, a premier event celebrating the innovation and legacy of American craft. Taking place over three days, April 25–27, 2025, in Washington, D.C., the weekend will feature four exciting events uniting patrons, artists, educators, and scholars to honor the field’s most distinguished contributors.

Since 1997, JRACraft has celebrated the Masters of the Medium and other leaders in the craft world. This year’s honorees have made significant, lasting contributions to their respective fields.

​Michael Lucero
For 45 years, Michael Lucero has been creating dynamic, surrealist works that comment on the broad history of ceramics while pushing that medium beyond its perceived limitations. With a career that has redefined ceramic art, Lucero continues to inspire and provoke. He received his MFA from the University of Washington in 1978. His work has been featured in numerous solo exhibitions at prominent institutions such as the Museum of Arts and Design and the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Lucero’s pieces are held in major collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Renwick Gallery, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Xenobia Bailey 
Xenobia Bailey is a cultural activist and visionary artist renowned for her kaleidoscopic crochet mandalas and hats, which draw inspiration from ancient African aesthetics and the ethos of funk.  Bailey’s practice reclaims erased cultural histories while envisioning a sustainable, nature-inspired future. Born in Seattle in 1955, she studied under legendary painter Jacob Lawrence at the University of Washington before earning her B.I.D. from Pratt Institute in New York City. Bailey’s work frequently appears in major exhibitions, from the Studio Museum in Harlem to international venues such as SITE Santa Fe and Sharjah Art Foundation. Her iconic designs have graced films, television, and public art installations, including the monumental mosaic “Funktional Vibrations” at the 34th Street/Hudson Yards subway station in New York City. Her work is held in numerous public collections, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Saint Louis Art Museum, and the Newark Museum of Art.

Norm Sartorius 
Renowned for his exquisite hand-carved spoons, Norm Sartorius has spent over 30 years transforming the humble wooden spoon into an art form. Working with rare and exceptional woods, he creates sculptural pieces that blend natural forms, abstract designs, and rich textures. Sartorius draws inspiration from spoon-making traditions across the world, as well as the inherent beauty of his materials. Each spoon he creates is a unique dialogue between the artist and the wood, celebrating the interplay of color, form, and texture. His works are housed in prestigious collections, including the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Yale University Art Gallery, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. 

Lola Brooks
Lola Brooks is a metalsmith whose work explores the rich symbolism of jewelry as a cultural artifact. With training at Pratt Institute and SUNY New Paltz, where she studied under Jamie Bennett and Myra Mimlitsch-Gray, Brooks combines traditional craft with contemporary innovation. Her pieces challenge conventional notions of value by juxtaposing stainless steel with gold, transforming sentimental motifs into profound artistic statements. Brooks has participated in numerous exhibitions, including "Sparkle Then Fade" at the Tacoma Art Museum and "Heavy Metal" at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. Her work is featured in prominent collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Arts and Design, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. 
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REGISTER FOR THE SYMPOSIUM

Top left to right: Anthropomorphic Male Teapot from the New World Series, 1992 by Michael Lucero. Racine Art Museum, the Donna Moog Teapot Collection. Photo by Michael Trope.

Installation view of “Xenobia Bailey: (Re)Possessed,” in American Story, John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, Wisconsin, 2009-2010. Photo: John Michael Kohler Arts Center. 

Retusa Galaxy, Cocobolo Burl, 11 x 6 x 5 inches, 2015. Collection of Fleur Bresler. Photo by Jim Osborn. 

alleyesonyou brooch, Stainless steel chain, 14k solder, 14k, antique blown glass doll eyes, rose cut champagne diamonds, stainless steel. 38mm x 43mm x 29mm, February 2020. Private collection. Photo by Lola Brooks.

Top left to right: Michael Lucero, Xenobia Bailey, Norm Sartorius, Lola Brooks.