Some stories are best told through craft shaped by generations of hands. Florida CraftArt’s newest exhibition, The Makers Who Made Us, celebrates the organization’s 75th anniversary by exploring the artists and ideas that have guided its work since 1951.
Opening March 11 at Florida CraftArt (501 Central Ave), the exhibition traces the organization’s growth from a small, artist-led effort connecting makers across Florida to the vibrant craft community it supports today. Visitors are invited to see that journey up close, with a visual history lesson told by artists who continue to inspire.
A legacy in Florida
Curated by Florida CraftArt’s first executive director, Michele Tuegel, alongside current CEO Jorge Vidal, The Makers Who Made Us draws from the organization’s permanent collection to show how craft has always brought people together. Visitors can expect to see ceramics, fiber, glass, jewelry, wood, metal, and mixed media on display. Instead of simply looking at the past through rose-colored glasses, the exhibition highlights how early ideas about materials, skill, and experimentation still shape the work artists are making now.
Florida CraftArt was founded in 1951 by artists and educators Louis and Elsa Freund, who believed craft deserved serious attention and a wider audience. Before the organization had a permanent home, the Freunds traveled the state with juried exhibitions that brought artists together and shared work with new communities – long before “networking” entered the arts vocabulary. That early focus on artists across Florida is still part of what Florida CraftArt does best, and it’s on full display throughout this exhibition.
Early Florida CraftArt artist Charlie Brown created his hand-built vessels using clay he dug from the St. Johns River. Photo by Katie Deitz
Florida CraftArt founders Luis and Elsa Freund. Photo courtesy of Eureka Springs Historical Museum
Artists who shaped the story
One of the artists featured in The Makers Who Made Us is Charlie Brown, a Florida native whose career path took an unexpected turn. At 58, Brown left a career in accounting to become a full-time potter, proving it’s never too late to pursue the arts. He developed a signature hand-built style using clay he dug himself from the banks of the St. Johns River, creating vessels that feel deeply connected to place.
Brown’s dedication to material, process, and community helped spark a thriving pottery scene in Florida. His work gained national attention, including exhibitions at the Smithsonian, but stayed rooted in the same quiet, hands-on process that gave him his start.
The exhibition also brings the spotlight to the present through contemporary fiber artist Nneka Jones, whose work has appeared on the cover of Time magazine. Her triptych, Layers of Identity, combines hand embroidery and collage to explore the stereotypes and realities of young Black women. Jones’s work gives visitors a powerful example of how craft continues to evolve, using traditional techniques to engage in modern cultural conversations.
“The Makers Who Made Us” on display March 11 at Florida CraftArt
Plan your visit
The Makers Who Made Us is the first of two exhibitions Florida CraftArt is presenting as part of Handwork 2026, a nationwide program exploring the cultural impact of craft in America.
The show is on view beginning March 11, with an opening reception planned for March 14 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. There will also be a special panel discussion on March 19 at 6:00 p.m., inviting artists and audiences to share memories and behind-the-scenes stories.
Admission is free, because craft is best when it’s shared. Florida CraftArt’s regular hours are 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily except Sunday, from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Find more details and event updates on their website and Facebook page.