Coming Up Next

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Alberta Craft Gallery, "Coming Up Next," 2019

Reception: Saturday, September 7 from 2-4pm

The revival of Coming Up Next is an exciting one for the Alberta Craft Council. The exhibition was designed in 2007 to help the Alberta Craft Council reach out to emerging artists in the fine craft community and to act as a catalyst for rewarding professional careers. Serving as an annual showcase of emerging fine craft artists within the first five years of their craft career, it ran for seven years and featured the work of 138 emerging artists. A quarter of the artists have since gone on to be represented by the Alberta Craft Gallery Shop, and most participating artists remain active members today. 

The 2019 edition of Coming Up Next features 14 artists, from those in their last year of undergraduate studies to students attaining their master’s degrees and several who are self-taught or have returned to their practice after several years away. Individually they are all working on the initial steps of their careers, and together we create a strong community to help ensure their continued success. 

Emerging craft artists need to strike a fine balance between taking creative risks and honing their technical and business skills. Coming Up Next provides a vital link for artists during this pivotal phase of their career by connecting them to the greater craft community of peers, mentors, audiences who appreciate the skills, quality and originality of the handmade.

Since its inception, Coming Up Next has been a great way to connect with emerging artists, it sparks a lasting and beneficial relationship for both the maker and the Alberta Craft Council. As history indicates, this is a promising roster of artists to watch for the coming years.

Participating Artists: Lael Chmelyk (Calgary), Naomi Desrochers-Caron (Lac La Biche & Welland, ON), DaynaEllen (Calgary), Tanya Everard (Calgary), Jessie Fraser (Calgary), Alexandra Glenn-Collins (Calgary), Grace Han (Winnipeg), Leah Kudel (Devon), Sara Nishi (Edmonton), Jennifer Pankratz (Red Deer), Carlos Rojas (Montreal), Adele Schatschneider (Calgary), Yuan Yin & Matthew O’Reilly (Calgary).