On a closed-off section of Benefit Street, over 100 Rhode Island School of Design-affiliated artists sold prints, paintings, ceramics, glasswork and other handmade crafts for a biannual tradition: RISD Craft.
Thousands of visitors gathered this Saturday to attend the art sale, which overlapped with RISD’s family weekend. First held in 1988, the sale occurs twice a year in the spring and fall.
Malda Smadi, a project coordinator in RISD’s alumni and family relations office, said that preparation for the event takes about six to eight months. Applications to operate a booth are open for a month, and reviews of submitted work take another three weeks.
For RISD alums, the selection process is conducted by a select panel of alums. Smadi said that the jurors — who are chosen by RISD — use “a very straightforward scoring system,” and the criteria is available for applicants online. The jury focuses on the craftsmanship, originality, quality and attention to detail of the work when selecting the works.
According to Charles Reyburn, a painting alum who graduated in 1978, the process is “almost like applying to RISD.” Reyburn said he largely paints landscapes around his home in Connecticut, but also returns to Providence for inspiration.
Unlike alums, current RISD students and 2026 graduates can secure a spot through a lottery system.
The fall application advertised roughly 80 alum places and 30 lottery spots. Reported booth fees are $250 for alums, $125 for 2026 graduates and $55 for current students. Artists retain all of the money made from their sales.
Anjali Gauld, a 2026 RISD graduate, sold blown and cast glass work at this year’s RISD Craft. “I’ve been walking through (the fair) for the past four years,” Gauld said. The fair is “a really nice forum to sell craft-based work,” Gauld added.
While attendance is difficult to quantify, Smadi estimated that the event generally draws between 5,000 and 7,000 attendees, including RISD families and alumni, Providence residents and visitors from outside Rhode Island.
With so many people visiting the booths, artists “have been able to build a lot of relationships and connections,” she said.
For Kai Gietzen, a RISD alum and illustrator now living in New York, participating offers an opportunity to return to Providence. He first sold his works — which includes narrative illustrations and prints — at the fair as a student. “I think I’ve been back almost every year since I graduated,” he said.
David Ma, a RISD ceramics MFA student who participated for the first time this year, said that the gathering represents an opportunity to connect with the community more intimately. At RISD Craft, Ma sold 3D-printed sculptures that were inspired by artifacts from ancient China.
“Craft sales are a way for me to sell my work to people outside of the gallery system” and “interact with people on a one-on-one basis,” he said.
To celebrate RISD’s 150th anniversary, the school will host a special two-day craft sale on Feb. 13 and 14 at the WaterFire Arts Center in Providence. Smadi said that the sale will include upwards of 150 vendors and expand participation to RISD faculty and staff members.
