Harlan Boss Scholarships
The Harlan Boss Scholarship is awarded to emerging artists who are Black, Indigenous, or Persons of Color (BIPOC) or otherwise historically underrepresented and who work and reside in Minnesota. With support from the Harlan Boss Foundation for the Arts, these artists receive financial and in-kind support to build sustainable and successful careers.
Meet the awardees.
Selected artists receive underwritten participation in our American Craft Fest St. Paul event, financial stipend to offset costs and support their practice, American Craft Council membership that includes professional development workshops and mentorship, marketing and promotional support, and other great benefits.
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Abegael Uffelman
Abegael Uffelman earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Tyler School of Art, Temple University in 2019. Her work has been featured and awarded at Bullseye Glass Transitions in Kiln-Glass Exhibition, where she earned first place in the emerging artist category, and the Glass Art Society International Student Exhibition in 2019. In 2023, she completed the Better Together Residency at Pilchuck Glass School. Currently, Uffelman is the Program Coordinator and an instructor at glass non-profit, Foci Mi...
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Andrew Rivera
Andrew Rivera received his BFA in Ceramics and Sculpture from The University of Minnesota-Duluth and completed the MN NICE certificate program at Northern Clay Center in Minneapolis, MN. Andrew completed a long term residency at The Clay Studio of Missoula. He is currently working out of his home studio and teaching ceramics in the Twin Cities area. Inspired by function, history, design, and culture, his wares reflect on personal identity and his Mexican heritage. Rivera currently resides in Hut...
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Azania Tripp
Azania Tripp (she/her)/ Obsidian Pause Wearable Paper Art has transformed her miniature collages into earrings for the past seven years. She hopes people will experience whimsical joy from wearing the pieces. Since 2019, she has been expanding her work to visual art pieces, customizing furniture with collage and seed art to express her intersectionalities as a Black/African American, Singaporean Eurasian person with ADD/ADHD, anxiety, and depression. Azania has been facilitating college-designi...
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Erin Christianson-Peña
Erin Peña is a queer, Jewish beader based out of Minneapolis who creates geometric sculptures from beads and thread. Erin found beadweaving in their early teens and they love both the creative work of engineering a sculpture, and the meditative practice of beading itself. Erin draws their inspiration both from mathematical forms and from the natural world, blending crystalline and organic structures in a way that is compelling and unique. Erin’s work is their way of expressing their curiosity...
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Jennifer Adams
Jennifer Adams (she/her) is a 21 year old who practices the traditional art form paaxge. Paaxge is a traditional form of beadwork/weaving done specifically by Ho-Chunk people. Indigenous people all over North America have always been brilliant weavers. Ho-Chunk people for many generations have weaved rugs, baskets, adornments, etc. Ho-Chunk like many other tribes have been affected by the loss of culture. Jennifer is using the art form paaxge as a way to revitalize her culture, cope, and showcas...
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Joy Byrum
Joy Byrum is the handweaver and designer behind Weaving On Sundays. Weaving on Sundays is a passion project that emerged from Joy’s deep longing to return to the loom after a decade-long break. It's Joy's platform for exploration and experimentation — a space where she refines her weaving, spinning, and dyeing skills. Her woven work is not just a product but a source of joy expressed through color, pattern, and texture. She creates contemporary handwoven goods for the home designed fo...