Women in Craft and Design
July 28, 2012 through July 20, 2014
Wells Fargo Center


Since the Arts and Crafts movement of the early 20th century, women have been an active force in craft and design. The movement's predominant aim was to produce beautifully designed and well-made objects for everyday use. The democratic ambitions of Arts and Crafts appealed to female artists who were encouraged not only to participate, but also to lead. The innovation and creation of these early female modernists continues today, with original handcrafted objects and utilitarian works of art designed for mass production.

Drawing from the collection of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, this exhibition at the Wells Fargo Center in downtown Minneapolis showcases the talents of women in the fields of industrial design and craft. Examples of industrial design come from a diverse array of pioneering women, including British silver designer Kate Harris, American inventor Marion Weeber, and lifelong designer Eva Zeisel, who recently passed away at the age of 105. Works by contemporary craft artists include vessels by British ceramicist Jennifer Lee, American wood artist Virginia Dotson, and local artist Jan McKeachie-Johnson. Combined, this selection of objects highlights the creativity and skill women have used to transform everyday objects into fascinating and beautiful works of art.


Wells Fargo Center
Ideally located in the heart of downtown Minneapolis, this unique exhibition space provides an open forum for the presentation of rotating exhibitions devoted to aspects of Modernism.

Wells Fargo Center - Seventh and Marquette - Downtown MinneapolisThe grand space consists of sixteen large-scale vitrines (wall cases) aligned along two block-long corridors and five smaller vitrines installed on the skyway level. Collectively, they provide a pedestrian "boulevard d'art" in the city's busiest crossroads. Now in its fifteenth year, the vitrines were purposely designed as an overall program to examine aspects of Modernism through the decorative arts and design.

The works are exhibited on a rotating basis, one exhibition each year, all drawn principally from the museum's permanent collection.

Wells Fargo Center is located between 6th and 7th streets along Marquette Avenue. The exhibitions are free and open to the public, 8:00am to 6:00pm, weekdays only.