ACC Announces the 2026 Award Winners at American Craft Made Baltimore
March 12, 2026
Minneapolis, MN — The American Craft Council (ACC) proudly announced the recipients of its annual American Craft Made Baltimore fair awards, including the prestigious ACC Awards of Excellence and other juried awards, at the fair on February 21, 2026. These awards recognize the outstanding artisans for their craftsmanship, innovation, and artistic excellence, celebrating creators who push the boundaries of their respective mediums.
The categories for the ACC Awards of Excellence follow the general fair categories of: Home & Living, Jewelry, Wearables & Accessories, and Emerging Artist. This year’s honorees include:
Yoshi Fujii (Baltimore, MD) for Home & Living:
“A soulful offering of lovely sets—all colored in a deep, beautiful cross between gentle brown and charcoal gray. . . . I am happy for anyone who acquires the haunting works of Yoshi Fujii, who, like his brilliant colleagues from Baltimore Clayworks, creates objects with love; to heal and enhance our lives.” —Juror Robbye Apperson, Baltimore-based collector and writer
Hyungzee Choi (Raleigh, NC) for Jewelry:
“Hyungzee Choi’s work immediately stood out to me for the seamless way she integrates repurposed machine parts into her intricately crafted jewelry objects. The playful designs she creates are smart, beautiful, and easily wearable.” –Juror Brienne Rosner, the Society of North American Goldsmiths (SNAG)
John Jameson, Twisted Textiles (New York, NY) for Wearables & Accessories:
“In apparel and accessories, expertise and quality are not abstract; they are felt. Twisted Textiles demonstrates how sustained practice and material fluency result in textiles that feel intimate, assured, and distinctly contemporary.” –Juror David Dao, Baltimore Jewelry Center
MC Carey, Femme Prints (Baltimore, MD) for Emerging Artist:
“MC Carey’s booth is inviting from both far away and up close. Their expressive interactions with every person who enters their booth draws you into the stories of their work, inspirations, and process. The prints show an incredible mastery of the linocut technique. The work uses a unique mix of materials that express artistry, culture, and activism.” –Juror Emily Edelstein, CraftNOW Philadelphia
In addition to the Awards of Excellence, ACC offered or partnered with other organizations to present:
The Asé Design Award for Excellence in Wood:
Paul Petrie Jr., WoodChuck Woods (Gloversville, NY) received the award provided by Darryl Patterson, Baltimore-based artist and designer and ACC Trustee, and Lawrence Moore, co-founder of Asé Design Studio. The award honors their commitment to community empowerment and meaningful engagement. Patterson and Moore are both long-time designers and woodworkers, and this award is a recognition of excellence within American Craft Made Baltimore for the media of wood, with the winner receiving a cash prize of $1,500.
The Craft Emergency Relief Fund Emerging Artist Readiness Award:
Jill Melyssa (Waxhaw, NC) received the award, which is provided by the Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF+), a non-profit organization that provides artists emergency relief and preparedness grants as well as education, advocating for craft artists through every step of their creative journeys. The award provides a $1,000 grant to one early career/emerging artist who is a first time ACC exhibitor, to safeguard their craft-based practice from a future emergency. Awardees are then invited to nominate a peer in the field of craft who would benefit from funds to safeguard their practice, and this peer is awarded $1,000 as well.
The James Renwick Alliance for Craft Award for Excellence in Innovation:
Laura Fortune (Santa Fe, NM) received the award presented by ACC and the James Renwick Alliance for Craft (JRACraft) that highlights artists at American Craft Made Baltimore who bring a fresh perspective to their techniques or materials. The award features a $1,000 prize and guaranteed entry into next year’s American Craft Made Baltimore fair.
The Randall Darwall Fiber Award:
Sarah K. Benning (Baltimore, MD) received the award that honors the legacy and memory of weaver and former ACC show artist, Randall Darwall, by providing financial support and encouragement for fiber artists to exhibit their work.
The American Craft Council’s flagship event, American Craft Made Baltimore, is one of the most highly respected and anticipated craft events in the United States. As the largest juried craft fair on the East Coast, the fair honors the art of the handmade, fosters connection between creators and appreciators, and supports the livelihoods of early-career and established artists and makers.
About the American Craft Council:
The American Craft Council (ACC) is a national nonprofit fostering connection through the handmade. Building upon an 80+ year legacy of tradition and innovation as a membership-based nonprofit, ACC leverages the transformative possibilities of craft through storytelling, resources for artists and appreciators, and events. In partnership with organizations across the country, we mobilize our diverse craft ecosystem to create a world where objects matter, makers thrive, and craft connects. Learn more and take part at craftcouncil.org.