state

: SC

Bob Trotman, American, born 1947; Person of Interest, 2008; Wood, tempera, wax; 24 x 24 x 16 in. Gift of Bob Trotman and the Kohler Foundation, Inc. CMA 2023.7. Image courtesy of the Columbia Museum of Art / Drew Baron

The human body is essential to craft. This genre of art is rooted in physical labor, tactile knowledge, and material intimacy, and the resulting pieces are often intended to protect our bodies or to assist in nourishing them.

Building on that foundation, this exhibition presents works made of wood, ceramics, glass, textiles, and sweetgrass, and foregrounds their bodily resonance in terms of method of making as well as subject matter.

Columbia,
SC
Exhibitions + Shows
Clay Fiber Mixed Media Other Wood
ArtFields Festival 2019. Second Floor Media

First Peoples Project: Art of the Native South is an exhibition and event series highlighting craft traditions that through intergenerational transmission have been a part of some Native Americans’ cultural identity, way of life, resilience and survival for more than 12,000 years.
It is in this context that we recognize how the historically important contributions of Native Americans in the field of craft inform modern practice through an exhibition, Indian Craft Market and event series.

Lake City,
SC
Exhibitions + Shows Marketplaces + Festivals
Clay Fiber Glass Metal Mixed Media Other Paper Wood
Steven F. Gately Gallery. FMU Media Office

FMU Steven F. Gately Gallery presents ART THAT INSPIRES COMMUNITY.

The mission of the gallery is to engage residents of the Pee Dee through diverse exhibitions and experiences from contemporary artists, serving as a driver to Francis Marion University’s vision and Downtown Florence’s Cultural & Arts District.

Florence,
SC
Gallery
Mixed Media
Formations (secondhand fabric, thread, wire). B. Jean Larson

B. Jean Larson is an artist and researcher who questions value and visibility by exploring the intersections of utilitarian textile craft, posthumanism, and queer theory. Central to her practice is the metaphor of the bog: a queer space that shifts between the binaries of land and water and has been historically devalued.

Through meticulous hand braiding, B. Jean creates large-scale rag rugs that move between painting and sculpture, art and craft.

Florence,
SC
Exhibitions + Shows
Fiber Mixed Media
Photo inside of the Lipscomb Art Gallery at the South Carolina State Museum. Courtesy of the South Carolina State Museum

This professionally juried-exhibition highlights South Carolina’s contemporary craft scene as part of the national Handwork 2026 initiative.

Featuring 10–12 artists working in fiber, ceramics, wood, and mixed media, the show emphasizes both heritage and innovation. Many of the works will be created specifically for this exhibition, underscoring the ongoing evolution of craft practices in the state.

Columbia,
SC
Celebrations + Gatherings Exhibitions + Shows Talks + Conferences
Clay Fiber Glass Metal Mixed Media Other Paper Wood
701 Whaley Exterior. photo by 701 Whaley

We are a non-profit art center in South Carolina that produces contemporary art exhibitions, offers year-round cultural programming, and a variety of events that are free and open to the public. These include performances, workshops and classes that embrace not only visual arts but also theater and dance.

Housing both a gallery and an adjacent live-work studio for an artist-in-residence program, CCA provides artists with resources to develop, create and exhibit their art, frequently in conjunction with performing, literary and media arts.

The Center is financially supported by diverse sources including business, government agencies, foundations and private individuals through memberships, visitor donations, and grants.

Founded in 2007, and opened one year later, CCA continues to be dedicated to enhancing the interaction between artists and the public. The Center is located at 701 Whaley Street, in the former community center of Columbia’s Mill District.

Columbia,
SC
Arts/Cultural Organization Gallery
Clay Fiber Glass Metal Mixed Media Paper Wood
Indie Craft Parade at Judson Mill in Greenville, South Carolina. Jasmin Elaine

Indie Craft Parade is a juried annual festival of art in Greenville, South Carolina that celebrates handmade goods and independent artists. The event showcases over 100 talented makers across a broad range of mediums each September, offers a vibrant shopping experience, and encourages the growth of small, local brands. With a focus on creativity, community, and craftsmanship, Indie Craft Parade is a joyful gathering for artists and attendees alike.

Greenville,
SC
Arts/Cultural Organization
Clay Fiber Glass Metal Mixed Media Other Paper Wood
Image of the Lindsay Pettus Gallery at the NASC. Native American Studies Center at USC Lancaster

Established in August of 2012, this comprehensive center for the study of South Carolina’s Native American peoples, their histories, and their cultures offers visitors the opportunity to view the single largest collection of Catawba Indian pottery in existence; study primary and secondary texts on Native Americans in the Southeast; participate in educational classes and programs; and observe archaeology, language, and folklore and oral history labs.

We develop curriculum and public programs that educate the public about Native American art and culture, with an emphasis on the Catawba and other Native communities in South Carolina. Students at USC Lancaster and visitors to our Center can learn about art, American Indian literature and culture, Native American archaeology, folklore, anthropology, and oral traditions.

Our Mission

The mission of USC Lancaster’s Native American Studies is to promote the documentation, preservation, appreciation, and study of Native American cultures and heritages. This mission is aided by courses and curricula, research projects, archival resources, exhibits, publications, and other public and educational programs and  materials developed by USCL faculty and staff. The Center works to dispel any stereotypes or existing misconceptions regarding Native Americans, their cultures, life ways, and languages.

Lancaster,
SC
Museum University or College
Clay Fiber Metal Mixed Media Paper Wood
Exterior of the South Carolina State Museum. Courtesy of the South Carolina State Museum

The South Carolina State Museum, located in Columbia’s historic 1894 Columbia Mills building, is the largest museum in the state and a Smithsonian Affiliate. The Museum features four floors of exhibits in art, cultural history, natural history, and science and technology. Our mission is to provide educational experiences that inspire, entertain, and enrich visitors through engaging exhibits and innovative programming.

Highlights of the museum include the Lipscomb Art Gallery, a 55-foot digital dome planetarium, the Boeing Observatory with a historic Alvan Clark telescope, and South Carolina’s only permanent 4D interactive theater. Its extensive collection includes over one million objects, such as fine art, fossils, cultural artifacts, and science exhibits. Notable exhibitions explore topics like World War II, South Carolina’s role in space exploration, and the science of sound.

The museum offers educational programs, field trips, and discounted access through the “Museums for All” program. General admission is affordable, with special pricing for children, seniors, and groups. Visitors can enjoy the Crescent Café and shop for locally made items in the museum store, one of the largest museum gift shops in the country.

Blending history, art, science, and culture, the South Carolina State Museum offers a dynamic and inclusive experience for learners and explorers of all ages.

Columbia,
SC
Museum
Clay Fiber Glass Metal Mixed Media Paper
Alba Triana 2024 Competition Winner at the 2025 Competition Awards Ceremony. Second Floor Media

ArtFields was founded in 2013 to revitalize Lake City, SC, bring access to the arts to an underserved area, and celebrate artists living and working in the South. Our flagship event turns the town into a gallery with artists competing for $100,000 in prizes. We host rotating exhibitions in three galleries, maintain a public art collection, and provide art education for local youth.

Lake City,
SC
Arts/Cultural Organization
Clay Fiber Glass Metal Mixed Media Paper Wood
The Columbia Museum of Art overlooking Boyd Plaza in the heart of downtown Columbia, SC. Victor Johnson / The Columbia Museum of Art

The Columbia Museum of Art is a charitable nonprofit organization dedicated to lifelong learning and community enrichment for all.

Located in the heart of downtown Columbia, S.C., the CMA ranks among the leading art institutions in the country and is distinguished by its innovative exhibitions and creative educational programs. At the heart of the CMA and its programs is its collection, which encompasses 7,000 works and spans 5,000 years of art history.

Established in 1950, the CMA now welcomes more than 150,000 visitors annually and is a catalyst for community creativity and education, engaging people of all ages and backgrounds.

It is the recipient of a National Medal from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, a National Art Education Association award for its contributions to arts education, a National Park Foundation Award, and two Governor’s Awards for the Arts for outstanding contributions to the arts in South Carolina.

Columbia,
SC
Arts/Cultural Organization Museum
Clay Fiber Glass Metal Mixed Media Other Paper Wood
Diane Kilgore Condon, The Ackerman Gallery, SCGA

The Sumter County Gallery of Art (SCGA) is a non-profit, community-based art and arts education institution in Sumter County.

Sumter,
SC
Arts/Cultural Organization Craft School Gallery
Clay Fiber Glass Metal Mixed Media Other Paper Wood