Looking to Experience a State Fair This Year? The Renwick Has You Covered
Butter cows, Big Tex’s size 96 boots, and 700 jars of canned peaches? Count us in.
Through about this time next year, the Renwick Gallery is bringing the wonder, and whimsy, of America’s iconic state fairs to the heart of downtown DC with its new exhibition, State Fairs: Growing American Craft, (running through September 7, 2026). And yes, there will be a full-size butter sculpture.
Occupying both floors of the Renwick, State Fairs is the first exhibition of its kind to focus on the rich artistic traditions that have grown from, and thrived at, state fairs across the country since the 19th century.
Curated after five years of cross-country research that included visits to 15 fairs and partnerships with artists, 4H clubs, and tribal nations from 43 states, the exhibit brings together over 240 artworks, dating from the 1850s to today. Expect ribbon-winning quilts, hand-tooled leatherwork, and everything from crop art to carnival-sized spectacle.
So, what can you actually see?
Some of the showstoppers include:
A life-size butter cow, sculpted by Iowa State Fair artist-in-residence Sarah Pratt, live on-site;
The actual size 96 boots worn by Big Tex—the towering cowboy mascot of the Texas State Fair;
A pyramid of 700 glass jars filled with perfectly preserved fruits and veggies, courtesy of canning legend Rod Zeitler;
A crop-art portrait of Richard Nixon, because what says Americana like presidential likenesses made of seeds?
Pageant regalia from Indigenous tribal fairs and a 1965 dress made entirely of butter-carton paper (yes, really), once worn by Minnesota’s own dairy ambassador, the “Princess Kay of the Milky Way.”
There’s also a new, site-specific installation by Las Vegas artist Justin Favela in the Renwick’s Grand Salon, continuing his colorful, large-scale explorations of pop culture and Latinx identity through piñata-inspired craft.
State fairs are often seen as nostalgic throwbacks or kitschy Americana, but this exhibition asks guests to take a closer look and rethink the cultural value of craft in everyday life.
“While organizing this exhibition over the past several years, I experienced firsthand the collective spirit of artists getting together at state fairs across the country, sharing their talents and memories with fellow fairgoers,” said Mary Savig, the Renwick’s Lloyd Herman Curator of Craft.
“‘State Fairs: Growing American Craft’ provides a long-overdue spotlight on these exceptional artists. When looking at our history from the perspective of the fairgrounds, a richer picture of American art emerges.”
Each gallery is themed around a different part of the fair experience—heritage villages, parade floats, dairy barns, and more — and highlights the personal stories behind each artwork. From family traditions passed down through generations to artists whose work has long gone unrecognized, State Fairs gives voice to the many hands that have shaped American craft.
It’s a slice of the Midwest… or the South, or the Pacific Northwest… without ever leaving the District. And no ticket lines. Corn dogs optional.