The Center for Craft has announced the recipients of the 2025 Craft Archive Fellowship. The six fellows selected for this prestigious honor are Teju Adisa-Farrar, Robert Choe-Henderson, Amalia Uribe Guardiola, Crystal Vance Guerra, Trelani Michelle, and Bilphena Decontee Yahwon. Each fellow will receive a $5,000 honorarium to delve into and analyze archives of their choice, utilizing both traditional and innovative research methods.
The focus of the fellowship is on exploring underrepresented and non-dominant craft histories within the United States. The fellows will present their findings in articles on Hyperallergic in the fall of 2026 and will also participate in a virtual program with the Center for Craft.
Let’s take a closer look at the projects of each of the Craft Archive Fellows:
Teju Adisa-Farrar (Atlanta, GA) will be exploring “Histories of Natural Dyeing and Botanical Pigment Making from a Black American Lens.” This project aims to document the natural dyeing practices of Black individuals in the United States, tracing the traditions from Africa to contemporary reclamation.
Robert Choe-Henderson (Warne, NC) will focus on “Decolonizing the Tongue: Hanji in Kozo Patches.” By challenging Japanese-dominated narratives around papermaking, this research will delve into the decolonization of Korean papermaking.
Amalia Uribe Guardiola (New York, NY) will investigate “Costureros as Living Archives: Craft and Care in Latina Immigrant Communities.” This project will explore textile circles in New York City led by immigrant Latina women, highlighting how textile knowledge reflects expressions of home, care, and protest.
Crystal Vance Guerra (Chicago, IL) will be studying “Altar Making: A Critical Craft in Migrant Communities.” This research will examine Mexican altar making as a diasporic craft tradition and living archive, showcasing how migrants use this practice to assert their presence and preserve memory.
Trelani Michelle (Savannah, GA) will be tracing “Forged in Memory: Tracing Black Ironwork Lineage.” This project will uncover the presence of West African symbols in historic Black ironwork in the Southern United States, showcasing how cultural memory is preserved through craft.
Bilphena Decontee Yahwon (Baltimore, MD) will delve into “Fanning Rice: Tracing Windward Coast Basketry in the Lowcountry.” By exploring the shared origins of Liberian basket weaving and Gullah sweetgrass basketry, this research will shed light on the cultural significance of fannuh baskets in South Carolina’s Lowcountry.
The Craft Archive Fellowship is a collaboration between the Center for Craft and Hyperallergic, supported by Ayumi Horie, Sara Clugage, and the Gallaher Family. This fellowship is a testament to the commitment to advancing the field of craft and supporting the next generation of makers, curators, and critics.
