Contemporary Craft was established in 1971 by Elizabeth Rockwell Raphael to broaden opportunities for craft artists to exhibit and sell their work. The impetus behind its creation was the belief that many artists working with traditional craft materials were developing a unique vocabulary for these materials and in the process they were opening up a new avenue of creative effort in contemporary art.
For a deeper understanding of the conceptual foundations of the organization, please read the following interview with Raphael by friend and colleague, Florence Rosner.
Elizabeth Rockwell Raphael Interview