Object Stories

Handmade objects—and the stories they carry and inspire—are catalysts for a deeper engagement with the world and ourselves.

These Object Stories are part of an ongoing community storytelling project of the American Craft Council where we invite artists, historians, curators, and industry leaders and professionals to share about objects that hold meaning for them. The pieces they present shed light on individual perspectives and underscore what is shared in our richly diverse community: that the objects we make, admire, live with, and inherit are much more than things. They are the embodiment of history, culture, and skill—and a testament to what we hold dear.

 

impressionistic oval painting depicting a sun shining down on a landscape with a pond. There's a face in the pond and the landscape is catching fire

[Object As...] Alex Anderson

Learn how one of our six "Object As..." participants brought their object into being and what it means to them, followed by a note from the curator.
shiny black ceramic vessel with coiled texture and various shapes on the surface

[Object As...] Ebitenyefa Baralaye

Learn how one of our six "Object As..." participants brought their object into being and what it means to them, followed by a note from the curator.
Paper sculpture of two houses one red and one black connected by a red string

[Object As...] Bukola Koiki

Learn how one of our six "Object As..." participants brought their object into being and what it means to them, followed by a note from the curator.
wooden sculpture reminscent of a paddle or brush

[Object As...] James Maurelle

Learn how one of our six "Object As..." participants brought their object into being and what it means to them, followed by a note from the curator.
ceramic sculpture of upside-down head with flowers leaves and dragonflies adhered to it

[Object As...] Morel Doucet

Learn how one of our six "Object As..." participants brought their object into being and what it means to them, followed by a note from the curator.