The four artists chosen for Disrupting Craft—Tanya Aguiñiga, Sharif Bey, Dustin Farnsworth, and Stephanie Syjuco—place their emphasis on social justice work, activism, community and identity. They each use traditional craft media or skills and take them in new directions. The fruits of their labor are often more focused on the conversation surrounding the work than a physical object. While their works may be beautiful and well-made, it is often the message that is more carefully crafted.
Working in clay and on a large and small scale, Sharif Bey uses his daily art practice to assert and explore his own identity as an artist, father, and teacher. Sampling from African artistic traditions, Bey contextualizes his craft and identity in history and the larger world.