Artisan Market reflects Winterthur’s mission by celebrating local artisans and their handmade creations across a wide range of disciplines, including art, textiles, ceramics, glass, woodworking, antiques, jewelry, artisanal and small-batch gourmet goods, and gardening, and more.
This year, following a highly competitive grant application process, three Artisan Market Grants were awarded to recipients whose work embodies and extends Winterthur’s mission in meaningful ways.
Visit the Galleries Stairhall to meet the 2025 Artisan Market Grant Recipients and experience their inspiring work firsthand.
Folkloric Jewelry | Elena Carey Ochs
How did you begin your artistic journey, and what story or message does your work convey?
My artistic journey began with a love for storytelling, a background in classical music and ballet, and a lifelong enchantment with history, art, and beautiful, handcrafted objects. Folkloric Jewelry grew out of a desire to hold onto life’s fleeting, beautiful moments—small, cherished talismans that carry pieces of the past or embody those ineffable things that make you instinctively place a hand over your heart.
As a child, I would gaze at the ornate details of 18th- and 19th-century architecture and wish I could wear them. Now, I work with historical imagery sourced from antique auction catalogs, history books, and vintage ephemera, preserving each fragment under resin and pairing it with gemstones, pearls, and metals. My work is an act of preservation and reimagining, inviting the wearer to carry a piece of history with them, something that reflects and illustrates their unique story. Above all else, my message is one of whimsey and beauty—two things that I find to be essential in lifting every person up in what can often be a harsh and difficult world.
What does receiving this grant mean to you?
Receiving this grant is both a practical support and a deeply personal gift. It eases the financial challenges of participating in a major show as an independent artist and allows me to present my work with the level of care and intention I always strive for.
It also feels like a vote of confidence from a discerning jury with impeccable taste—an outward sign that what I create in solitude is understood and appreciated. Sharing my work at Winterthur affirms that I’ve oriented myself toward exactly where I want to be.
Even more meaningfully, this grant makes it possible for my family to join me. My children will have the chance to explore Winterthur—a place where history, craftsmanship, and beauty are celebrated. As both an artist and a mother, I’m deeply grateful for this opportunity to share such a rich and inspiring experience with them.
How does your work connect to Winterthur’s mission?
My work aligns closely with Winterthur’s mission of preserving and celebrating art, history, and material culture. Each piece I create is a tiny, faerie-sized act of preservation—transforming historical imagery into wearable forms while honoring the original art and stories behind them, all in a delightfully miniature scale.
I’m continually inspired by decorative arts, antique textiles, centuries-old prints, and botanical illustrations—all of which echo the spirit of Winterthur’s collections. Sharing my work at Winterthur feels like a natural meeting of minds and hearts, grounded in a shared reverence for beauty, storytelling, and preservation.
Artist booth generously funded by Debra Hess Norris and Bob Norris.
Julia Harrison
How did you begin your work and what is the message told behind your artwork?
My business officially started in 2017, but I’ve been making and selling jewelry and accessories since I was in high school. I strive to make work that honors the everyday, featuring materials and shapes that are both familiar and intriguing, handled with sensitivity and care. My jewelry and objects set the stage for communication, connection, and celebration.
Travel and walks are important parts of my process. New places let me see with new eyes; even taking a slightly different route between work and home can do the trick! When I pay attention I’m repaid with inspiration, ideas, and beautiful found materials to experiment with. Patience and curiosity are essential ingredients in my work, and I hope that in turn my work invites wearers and viewers to notice and appreciate their surroundings.
What does receiving this grant mean to you?
My business was affected by Hurricane Helene; many months on, I’m still working to establish new retail opportunities and reach a wider audience. This will be my first time participating in a craft show on this scale, and receiving the Artisan Market grant is a huge help in both practical and emotional ways. This grant has reduced the anxiety and uncertainty that comes with trying something new, while allowing me to focus all my resources on creating products and on honing my vision for sharing my work with market visitors.
How does your work connect to Winterthur’s mission?
I spent two months in 2024 living and working on the Winterthur estate as a Maker/Creator Fellow; this program allows creative artists to conduct research using Winterthur’s museum collection, garden, library, and archives, and it was an enormous privilege to be immersed in so much of what Winterthur has to offer. Through both my research and my creative work, I demonstrate that impeccably made objects can connect the people who make them with the people who appreciate them, even when they’re separated by time or distance. I like to think that Henry Francis du Pont would have agreed!
Artist booth funded in honor of Grayce Medici Hess and her excitement for emerging artists.
Prison Arts Program | Alexis Blocksom
How did you begin your work and what is the message told behind your artwork?
The prison arts program went on a hiatus for several years after the previous coordinator quit. I took over the program in late 2023, after I was offered the position by then-warden Robert May. Having a lifelong passion for art, he knew that it would be a great fit for me. This program is all about giving the offenders a therapeutic and creative outlet during their incarceration. This program has been praised by the artists and the community alike. The artists are given an outlet to express themselves, learn new skills, and find a productive way to spend their time, all while being able to make some profit.
What does receiving this grant mean to you?
After having been denied by so many other art galleries and events, it means the world to be given the chance to get these incredible artists’ work out to the public. They will be so thrilled to hear that their art will be featured in the beautiful Winterthur Garden.
How does your work connect to Winterthur’s mission?
Henry Francis du Pont was keen on inspiring and educating others with the subjects displayed at Winterthur. The Prison Arts Program goes right along with this mission, because these incarcerated artists are bringing more awareness and education to the community. While inmates are often depicted as talentless, bad people in the media, the art created by the artists in our program has inspired many and led to great conversations with members of the public. People see the beautiful works of art that these artists create, and suddenly they aren’t just inmates but men with great talent, passion, and purpose in the world. I hope to continue to show their art to the world and bring more awareness to the realities of prison life.