state

: AR

Michael Peterson (Wichita Falls, Texas, 1952 -), Arbutus, 2004, chainsawn, sandblasted, bleached, and pigmented madrone burl, 10 × 17 × 17 in., Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts Foundation Collection: Purchased with a gift from John and Robyn Horn. 2004.032.ab, Photography by Jason Masters.

Robyn and John Horn built their collection on personal artistic inspiration and a devoted relationship to craft. This expansive collection demonstrates the passion of skilled artists who explore an innovative approach to traditional materials.

The Horns have generously gifted over 250 works to the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts Foundation collection. Material Nature is a selection of the Horn collection that together demonstrates the passion for making, collecting, and living with art.

Little Rock,
AR
Exhibitions + Shows
Clay Fiber Glass Metal Wood
Nicole Seisler. Untitled

Seisler is a ceramic artist whose work investigates time, materiality, process, and the shifting roles of artist, viewer, and collaborator. She earned a BFA from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and an MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC).

Seisler is also the Founder and Director of A-B Projects, a space dedicated to exhibitions and alternative education in conceptual ceramics.

Little Rock,
AR
Exhibitions + Shows
Clay
Myra Mimlitsch-Gray, Cloved Oval, copper and brass. Courtesy of Sienna Patti

Mimlitsch-Gray explores craft as both subject and object, engaging the history and methods of metalsmithing to reinterpret utility and form. She received her MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art and is an American Craft Council Fellow.

Little Rock,
AR
Exhibitions + Shows Talks + Conferences
Fiber Metal
Gertrude Knappenberger, Centennial Quilt, 1876, Cotton with cotton embroidery, 82 1/2 in. x 74 1/2 in. American Folk Art Museum, Gift of Rhea Goodman, 1979.9.1. American Folk Art Museum.

America 250: Common Threads reflects on 250 years of art as civic participation. A copy of the Declaration of Independence will anchor a group of historic documents displayed alongside quilts, weavings, whirligigs, paintings, and more, from the eighteenth century to the present. Local quilters working live in the galleries will piece quilt squares made by Arkansas K-12 students and designed by artist Basil Kincaid.

The exhibition is organized in partnership with the American Folk Art Museum.

Bentonville,
AR
Exhibitions + Shows
Fiber Mixed Media Paper Wood
​​Aerial view of Construction of Crystal Bridges Museum of Art Expansion. Photography by Edward C. Robison III, courtesy of Crystal Bridges Museum of Art.

The mission of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is to welcome all to celebrate the American spirit in a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of nature. Founded by philanthropist and arts patron Alice Walton, Crystal Bridges is a public non-profit charitable organization. The museum opened on November 11, 2011, and welcomes all with free admission.

Crystal Bridges takes its name from a nearby natural spring and the bridge construction incorporated in the building, designed by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie. A series of pavilions nestled around two spring-fed ponds house galleries, meeting and classroom spaces, and a large, glass-enclosed gathering hall. Guest amenities include a restaurant (Eleven) and Coffee Bar on a glass-enclosed bridge overlooking the ponds, a Museum Store designed by architect Marlon Blackwell, and a library featuring more than 50,000 volumes of art reference material. Five miles of sculpture and walking trails link the museum’s 134-acre park to downtown Bentonville, Arkansas. In 2023, the museum welcomed nearly 785,000 visitors.

Bentonville,
AR
Museum
Clay Fiber Glass Metal Mixed Media Paper Wood
Visitor shop for unique handcrafted items directly from the master artisans who created them at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Kirk Jordan

Get away to the Ozark Holidays Craft Show for high-quality, handcrafted gifts directly from the artisans who created them.

Find more than 30 resident and guest artisans set up throughout the Ozark Folk Center State Park Craft Village on Saturday, November 28, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Village is home to master crafters dedicated to perpetuating fine Ozark craftsmanship. Escape the holiday fuss and find a handmade treasure. Admission is free for the show.

Mountain View,
AR
Marketplaces + Festivals
Clay Fiber Glass Metal Mixed Media Other Paper Wood
Enjoy live stringband music on the Blacksmith Stage during the Stringband Music & Arts Festival at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Kirk Jordan

Stringband Music & Arts Festival

Retreat to the Ozarks for two days of handcrafted arts and fun at the Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View, Arkansas.

Festival admission includes entry to the Craft Village and Herb Garden daily (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.).

Explore 19 artisan shops featuring live craft demonstrations, including wood carving and weaving, alongside old-time stringband music.

Music shows are held nightly at the Ozark Highlands Theater. Enjoy the finest of Ozark traditions!

Mountain View,
AR
Celebrations + Gatherings
Clay Fiber Glass Metal Mixed Media Other Paper Wood
Join working artisans in the Ozark Folk Center State Park for an evening of fun. Kirk Jordan

Join us for a Handcrafted Evening in the Park at the Ozark Folk Center Craft Village on Friday, July 17, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The Village shops will be open for quiet visits with working crafters. See demonstrations of fine Ozark craftsmanship: ironwork, wood carving, weaving, copper flame painting, and more.

Admission is free. Buy items directly from the makers. Enjoy a summer evening!

Mountain View,
AR
Artist Open Studio
Clay Fiber Glass Metal Mixed Media Other Paper Wood
Potters John Perry and Judi Munn have created, taught and shared their unique styles of pottery at the Ozark Folk Center State Park for more than 20 years. Kirk Jordan

The Craft Village at the Ozark Folk Center State Park is a community of working artisans dedicated to showcasing the Ozark craft traditions of the past, present, and future.

Open from March through November, the village is a place where craftspeople focus on creating, demonstrating, and selling their unique handmade items. Visitors can witness the daily production of high-quality functional art, from pottery and knife making to wood carving and printing. This active working environment supports a rare level of artistic freedom, allowing artisans to earn a living directly from their talent and passion.

While the primary focus is on creation and sales, the village honors its original vision as a teaching center. Classes and apprenticeships are available for those with the aptitude and desire to learn these traditional skills. The Craft Village remains a supportive community that values hard work and welcomes all to experience and appreciate the beauty of Ozark craftsmanship.

Mountain View,
AR
Arts/Cultural Organization Craft School
Clay Fiber Glass Metal Mixed Media Other Paper Wood
Vivian Chiu. Burr

Chiu was born in Los Angeles and emigrated to Hong Kong at the age of three.  She once described her work in the following terms, “Drawing inspiration from traditional woodworking techniques, I create large-scale wood sculptures through continuous processes of deconstruction and reconstruction. My recent work combines self-portraiture with niche craft techniques in wood and reimagines processes such as puzzle-making, stack lamination, and split-turning.”

Little Rock,
AR
Exhibitions + Shows
Wood
School of Art. Novo Studio

The University of Arkansas School of Art, housed in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, offers undergraduate degrees and tuition-free graduate programs in Art Education, Art History, Graphic Design and Studio Art.

In 2017, the former Department of Art became the School of Art through a $120 million gift from the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation. With additional support from the Windgate Foundation, the school established the Windgate Art and Design District, providing state-of-the-art facilities for all programs.

Dedicated to excellence in education, research, and service in the visual arts, the school maintains strong ties with Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, the Momentary, and other arts organizations. This includes the new Art History M.A. with a two-year residency at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art focused on the arts of the Americas and active Visiting Lecture Series.

Facilities span the main campus and the Windgate Art and Design District in south Fayetteville, uniting art, design, and education as a creative hub. The Fine Arts Center, designed by Edward Durell Stone, houses the school on campus, while the district features public galleries, studios, and collaborative spaces. A new Gallery and Foundations Building, now under construction, will expand galleries, labs, maker spaces, and the vital first-year Foundations program.

Discover more at art.uark.edu.

Fayetteville,
AR
University or College
Clay Metal Mixed Media Paper Wood
Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts. Photo Credit: Iwan Baan

The Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts offers an inspiring array of visual, performing arts, and educational experiences. The Museum is committed to creating an inclusive cultural space for the community to engage with diverse artistic perspectives through the AMFA Foundation’s 14,000 object permanent collection, compelling temporary exhibitions, lively theatre, and enriching courses.

The mission of the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts is to create an inclusive cultural space that inspires and builds community through the visual and performing arts. Serving the state of Arkansas and beyond, AMFA provides enriching experiences in the arts for all. Let your creativity flourish through instruction in diverse media, find inspiration through innovative programming, and experience art in new ways at Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts.

The Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts is home to the Windgate Art School, offering studio instruction in drawing, painting, ceramics, glass, metals, woodworking, and more. Instruction is available for students of all ages and skill levels, with daytime and evening classes offered quarterly, as well as short-term and specialty workshops.

Little Rock,
AR
Arts/Cultural Organization Craft School Gallery Museum
Clay Fiber Glass Metal Mixed Media Other Paper Wood
Lenticular accordion books with AB Gorham. Jay Fox

The Book Arts Center of Arkansas is located within the UAFS Art and Design department. The center teaches classes in support of Studio Art and  Graphic Design, as well as workshops and studio support for book artists and regional practitioners.

Fort Smith,
AR
University or College
Paper
UA Little Rock, Windgate Center of Art and Design. Copyright Ben Krain

The School of Art and Design at UA Little Rock offers engaging and inspiring art instruction. Our art degrees in studio art, art history, and art education prepare students for fulfilling careers as professional artists, and for careers in museums, businesses, schools, and more

Our students have opportunities for research, internships, and mentorship, and many students experience the fulfillment of having their works on display in our ualr – galleries.

Our Mission Statement: The School of Art and Design cultivates artistic excellence, critical thinking, and holistic growth in our students as we train them in art and craft, focusing on process, materials, and contemporary practices. Our dynamic and diverse community is dedicated to fostering inclusion and encouraging interdisciplinary exploration as we benefit from and contribute to the cultural fabric of Little Rock and Arkansas.

Whether you’re a current student, thinking about applying for admission, or want to visit our art exhibits, we’d love to tell you more about Art and Design at UA Little Rock.

Little Rock,
AR
Arts/Cultural Organization Museum University or College
Clay Metal Mixed Media Other Paper Wood