Hawaiʻi Craftsmen Statewide Exhibition opens Oct. 20 at Maui Arts & Cultural Center

A juried exhibition of 98 works by 94 Hawaiʻi artists opens Oct. 20 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s Schaefer International Gallery in Kahului, where it will run through Dec. 23.

The Hawaiʻi Craftsmen Annual Statewide Exhibition 2026 is organized by Hawaiʻi Craftsmen and presented with the Maui Arts & Cultural Center, according to a news release from the center. The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and before select Castle Theater shows. Admission is free.

The exhibition debuted in September at the Downtown Art Center on Oʻahu and has moved in its entirety to Maui. The center said the show marks the 60th consecutive year of the exhibition, which draws entries in ceramic, wood, textile, glass, metal and other media through an open call to Hawaiʻi artists.

Jonathan Yukio Clark, director of Schaefer International Gallery, served as this year’s juror. He reviewed 607 entries and selected works by artists from Hawaiʻi Island, Kauaʻi, Lānaʻi, Maui, Molokaʻi and Oʻahu, the center said.

Clark traveled between islands during the jurying process and chose both traditional forms and contemporary interpretations. He said he looked for works that combined technical skill, material ingenuity and personal perspective.

The juror presented 25 awards. The top honors include:

• Thurston Twigg-Smith Best in Show Award ($5,000): Jennifer Fujimoto of Oʻahu, for Uki-gumo, a large ceramic interpretation of a kokeshi doll.
• Elizabeth Rice Grossman Award of Excellence ($2,000): Hannah Shun of Oʻahu, for Lei of Waves and Fish – Humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa · Yellow Tang, a hand-shaped sterling silver piece.
• John Young Award ($1,000): Bon Moore of Kauaʻi, for Compass, a finger-woven sculpture made from natural fibers.
• Charles E. Higa Memorial Award of Excellence ($1,000): Masako Joubert of Maui, for the porcelain sculpture Modern Botanical: Haku Lei #1.

Gallery visitors will vote on the Audience Choice Award, sponsored by Shaunagh Robbins. The winner will be announced at a closing gathering at the gallery at 5 p.m. Dec. 11. The gathering is free.

Related public programs include:

• Observe & Play Family Day: The free event, held in honor of Shirley Yokouchi, is Nov. 14, from 10 a.m. to noon. Families can view the exhibition, meet some of the artists and try craft media at activity stations.
• ʻAha Hana Lima artist lecture: Paper artist and conservator Hiroko Sakurai will give a free slide lecture on her washi paper artwork and conservation on Nov. 20, at 5 p.m. in the Alexa Higashi Meeting Room. A reception will follow.
• Washi workshop: Sakurai will teach itajime/origami dye, urauchi paper backing and bookbinding techniques on Nov. 21-22. The workshop is part of Hawaiʻi Craftsmen’s reimagined ʻAha Hana Lima program, which begins on Maui. Tuition and registration details are available at hawaiicraftsmen.org.

Hawaiʻi Craftsmen is a nonprofit, volunteer-run organization founded in 1966 to increase public awareness and appreciation of fine craft statewide. Its first annual exhibition took place in 1967 at Ala Moana Center, the center said.

The exhibition is supported in part by the Maui County Office of Economic Development.