Postmark Center for the Arts is a rotating gallery space located in Auburn, Washington. The building was built in 1937 and served as Auburn's first post office but since has been converted into a hub for arts and culture. The main floor is dominated by a gallery and gathering space. The original post-office vault has been transformed into an inspiring and unique art installation space, The Vault Gallery. Exhibits rotate quarterly, and focus on providing art from a variety of backgrounds and interpretations.
Please visit our Visitor Information page for more.
Current Exhibition
Handwork 2026: Northwest Designer Craftartists
July 15 - October 9, 2026
Founded in Seattle in 1954, Northwest Designer Craftartists is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to promoting excellence in contemporary craft throughout the Pacific Northwest. NWDC brings together professional craft artists, educators, arts leaders, and supporters to strengthen and celebrate the region’s vibrant craft community.
NWDC joins over 250 organizations across the country to celebrate the beauty and evolution of craft in America on the eve of the country’s 250th anniversary.
About NWDC
Northwest Designer Craftartists (NWDC) was founded in Seattle in 1954 by Russell Day, Hella Skowronski, Coralynn Pence, Lizel Salzer, Henry Lin, Evert Sodergren, Irene McGowan, Robert Sperry, and Ruth Penington. NWDC is a nonprofit membership organization of more than 200 artists dedicated to excellence in fine craft throughout the Pacific Northwest. Members include professional artists working in clay, wood, glass, metal, fiber, and mixed media, who join through a juried or supporting membership process, as well as honorary members, including educators, collectors, and advocates. Through exhibitions, educational programs, artist talks, and the Living Treasures Project, an ongoing series of documentary films preserving the stories and achievements of the Northwest’s most influential elder craft artists, NWDC celebrates artistic excellence, preserves craft history, and strengthens the region’s vibrant craft community.
About Handwork
Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026 is a nationwide initiative organized by Craft in America as part of the United States' 250th anniversary celebration. Bringing together more than 250 museums, arts organizations, educational institutions, and craft communities across the country, Handwork 2026 highlights the vital role of handmade objects in American history, culture, and contemporary life. The year-long collaboration showcases the diversity of American craft through exhibitions, public programs, educational resources, documentaries, digital storytelling, and publications, with a particular emphasis on elevating underrepresented artists, traditions, and communities.
The initiative will culminate in a major exhibition, Handwork: Contemporary Craft, at the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C., while participating organizations nationwide contribute exhibitions and events that explore the many ways craft shapes American identity and experience. Additional components include a PBS documentary series produced by the team behind Craft in America, a national educational program, a comprehensive book on American craft history and practice, and a digital platform connecting audiences to craft stories from across the country.
Programming
Opening Reception
An opening reception was held for Handwork 2026: Northwest Designer Craftartists on July 15, 2026 from 5-7PM. Well-attended by artists and friends, this reception saw a brief talk by curator Barbara Matilsky and NWDC Executive director Daniel Wallace.
Bamboo Fanmaking with Charissa Brock
October 8, 2026 | 3-5PM
Register for Bamboo Fanmaking here to RSVP!
Charissa Brock, a bamboo sculptor, will teach students how
to make a simple woven bamboo fan using strips split in her studio along with
tissue paper decoration. Come learn about how fascinating bamboo is!
Participants will see a demonstration of bamboo splitting, learn about bamboo
as a plant and art material, and create a small square bamboo fan,
decorating it with their own tissue paper design.
More programming details coming soon!
Closing Reception
October 8, 2026 | 5-7PM
A closing reception for this exhibition is scheduled for October 8, 2026 from 5-7PM. Numerous participating NWDC artists are anticipated to speak about their work in a gallery tour. Light snacks provided!
Next Exhibition
Korean American Artists Association of Washington
October 21, 2026 - January 8, 2027
View Previous Exhibitions
- Discovered Narratives (April 23 - July 3, 2026)
- AIR: Auburn Artists in Residence (January 30 - April 17, 2026)
- UNFINISHED BUSINESS (October 23, 2025 - January 21, 2026)
- UNPRECEDENTED: The Inaugural Postmark Biennial (July 23 - October 29, 2025)
- Seattle Print Arts Annual Print Exchange (April 16 - July 9, 2025)
- Tapestry Artists of Puget Sound: Telling Their Stories (January 23 - April 9, 2025)
- ...A Familiar Taste Curated by Clarissa Grace Gines (October 10 - January 15, 2025)
- Postmarked: Connecting Communities (July 24 - October 2, 2024)
- SISTAHS Curated by Marita Dingus (May 8 - July 18, 2024)
- Muckleshoot: Alive & Strong (January - May 2024)
- RENEWAL: Historic Roots & Artistic Growth (September 2023 - January 2024)
- Wishing Trees: A Community Art Project (September 2023 - January 2024)