2025 Craft Award Recipients

Congratulations!

The annual Craft Awards recognize excellence and celebrate accomplished and dedicated practitioners in the field of craft and design. This year we are thrilled to announce the 2025 recipients, and hope you will join us in celebrating their achievements as we share their work with you in the upcoming months through the Craft Award Talks and the Craft Award Recipient Exhibition!

The exhibition will be on view from October 4 - November 2 at the new Craft Ontario Gallery location, 401 Richmond St West, Suite 108, Toronto

Mark your Calendars for the 2025 Craft Award Recipient Exhibition and Ceremony! Taking place on Thursday, October 16 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm. RSVP HERE

Special thanks to this year's jurors: Nathalie Bertin, Blaise Campbell, Magdolene Dykstra, Hassan Ghanati, Suki Hoi Yi Lai, and Carl Stewart.

The Craft Awards program is able to take place on an annual basis through the valued support of many generous donors and sponsors. Our thanks go to the following organizations, businesses and people:

The Cabbagetown Art & Craft Show, Chan Fraser Design, FUSION: the Ontario Clay and Glass Association, Gladstone House, JJStudio, Lacy West Supplies. Ltd., Leisa Rich and the Contemporary Textile Studio Co-op, The Pottery Supply House, Tucker's Pottery Supplies Ltd., as well as members and friends of the Copeland, Corcoran, Gregor, Mather, Mayhall, McPherson, Shanks, Walker and Yung families.

Image above by Mengya Zhao

Learn About This Year's Recipients

John and Barbara Mather Award for Lifetime Achievement: Chandler Swain

Melinda Mayhall Memorial Award in Indigenous Craft: Amber Sandy

Dorothy Elaine McPherson Memorial Award in Mixed Media: Lauren Rice

William and Mary Corcoran Award for Excellence in Functional Craft: Joon Hee Kim

Gladstone House Award: Khadija Aziz

James H. McPherson Award in Woodworking: Lindsey Ainsworth

Helen Copeland Memorial Award in Ceramics: Tanya Besedina

Pattie Walker Memorial Award in Architectural Glass: Eleni Papkov

Leisa Rich Fibre Arts Residency Award at the Contemporary Textile Studio Co-op: Charlotte Little, Isabelle McMahon, and Paulina Wiszowata

Rich Foundation Residency: Sarah Zanchetta

Shanks Memorial Award in Textiles: Tracey-Mae Chambers

Helen Frances Gregor Award: Michelle Peraza

Lily Yung Memorial Award: Elsa Robinson

Cabbagetown Art  & Craft Show Craftsperson Award of Merit: Courtney Downman

FUSION Ontario Clay and Glass Design Award: Sarah Hamelin

The Pottery Supply House Clay or Glass Supply Grant: Nadira Narine

Tuckers Pottery Supplies Ltd. Clay Supply Grant: Mengya Zhao

Chan Fraser Design Jewellery Award: Cynthia Fraschetti

JJ Studio Award for Emerging Jewellery Artists: Minseo Whee

Lacy West Supplies: Yutong Liu

Artworks in the above image are by the following 2025 Craft Award recipients: Elsa Robinson, MinSeo Whee, Lindsey Ainsworth, Cynthia Fraschet, Amber Sandy, Courtney Downman, and Tanya Besedina.