That perennial question: What is the difference between art and craft?
Is a rug art or is it craft? If a vase is art, can a teapot also be art? How about a basket? We did a little research on the differences between art and craft. Here’s what we found:
“Craft is something that can be taught” argues Turner Prize winning artist, Grayson Perry. Art on the other hand, comes from “the inspired individual.” Monica Moses, Editor-in-Chief of the American Craft Council points out that “craft has a legacy of functionality” and that “mastery of material” is an important aspect of craft.
Art historian, Laura Morelli, in this Ted-Ed Video looks at the history of art and craft. One of the primary distinctions in Western culture is that art is defined by a spirit of innovation and individual creativity. Craft on the other hand was defined by collective production.
Morelli argues, however, that it’s time to dispense with words and distinctions like art and craft. A basket, mask or rug might be art in one culture, but craft in another, and since the appreciation of an object, she says, is so conditioned by our history and culture, art is truly in the eye of the beholder.
So in the end, it might not matter at all. Our opinion, get crafty with your art. Hang a rug on a wall, or maybe even a vintage coat!
1. Handwoven rugs from Oaxaca, Mexico | 2. Hand carved masks from Kumasi, Ghana | 3. Vintage brass teapot from Mumbai, India