Ken Williams is a Northern Arapaho, and the Cattaraugus Tribal Nations artist. His work in contemporary bead making is extraordinary. Williams will lecture November 5th , 2026 6 pm EST. See all details and his list of awards below.
Corning Museum of Glass Announces Ken Williams Jr. as Recipient of the 2026 Rakow Commission
CMoG’s prestigious Rakow Commission marks its 40th year by supporting a new work in glass by Ken Williams Jr., the first beadwork artist selected for the commission
Ken Williams Jr. will publicly unveil the work at CMoG during a Connected by Glass lecture on November 5, 2026 at 6 pm EST
CORNING, NY, October 1, 2026 — The Corning Museum of Glass (CMoG) announced the selection of beadwork artist Ken Williams Jr. (b. 1983, Northern Arapaho and Cattaraugus Seneca) as the recipient of the 2026 Rakow Commission. Marking the Commission’s 40th year, the selection is the first Rakow Commission awarded for beadwork. The completed work will be unveiled on November 5, 2026, during a Connected by Glass lecture by the artist followed by a closer look at the work in the Contemporary Art + Design Galleries.
Williams Jr. began experimenting with beadwork at an early age on the Cattaraugus Seneca Indian Territory and later refined his technique alongside master bead workers from his mother’s Northern Arapaho family. Widely celebrated for his pictorial beadwork, he is using the Rakow Commission as an opportunity to move beyond functional and wearable forms, creating a standalone wall panel. Drawing inspiration from Pop Art and a vibrant color palette, the framed composition features the artist’s cat, Valentino, complete with a thought bubble depicting his favorite foods as part of his “Yum Series.” Williams Jr.’s work, titled, I Am the Hungry Cat, bridges ancestral artistic traditions with a playful, contemporary sensibility, expanding the possibilities of glass as a medium for narrative art.
“Beadwork is something I grew up with,” said Williams Jr. “It is both familiar and comforting, carrying generations of knowledge passed down through my heritage. To have this traditional art form recognized through the Rakow Commission is deeply meaningful. I’ve always used glass beads to tell stories, but experimenting with a new vehicle and format gave me the freedom to try something fresh and personal. Glass beads allow me to honor my ancestors while pushing my practice toward the future, and I’m thrilled to be able to bring that spirit to CMoG.”
“Ken’s work demonstrates how Indigenous artistic traditions engage dynamically with contemporary art,” said Tami Landis, curator of postwar and contemporary glass at CMoG. “By bringing his extraordinary beadwork to a new format and infusing it with his distinct personality and humor, Ken expands our understanding of what beadworking can be. This Rakow Commission celebrates an artist who respects the lineage of his craft while fearlessly innovating within it, and we are excited to bring his vibrant story to our galleries.”
“In a year when CMoG celebrates its 75th anniversary, The Studio marks 30 years, and the Rakow Commission reaches its 40th year, it is especially meaningful to add another first to the Museum’s history: the first Rakow Commission awarded for beadwork,” said Jessica Levin Martinez, president and executive director of the Corning Museum of Glass. “Ken Williams Jr.’s commission reflects the spirit of this milestone moment, honoring the deep traditions of indigenous beadwork while expanding how visitors understand glass as a medium for storytelling and artistic expression.”
The Rakow Commission has been awarded annually by CMoG since 1986 to an artist who is making important strides in contemporary glass. One of the most prestigious awards for artists working in glass, the Commission recognizes global creatives known for technical innovation and conceptual depth, providing a monetary award and resources to continue to push the field forward. Each year, artists are nominated by the curator of postwar and contemporary glass and selected by a committee. Once completed, the commissioned piece is displayed in the galleries. This program is made possible through the generosity of the late Dr. and Mrs. Leonard S. Rakow. Past award winners include Lino Tagliapietra, Jiří Harcuba, Toots Zynsky, Preston Singletary, among others.
A special Connected by Glass program will take place on November 5, 2026, at 6 pm EST, when the 2026 Rakow Commission work will be revealed in the Contemporary Art + Design Galleries. In-person attendees will be among the first to experience the installation immediately following the public talk, which will also be livestreamed. The in-person event is free and open to the public, and online attendees can register to receive the livestream link on the Corning Museum of Glass website. After the lecture, Museum Members are invited to a reception with the artist in the galleries.
About Ken Williams Jr.
Ken Williams Jr. is a contemporary bead worker who began his career at an early age, experimenting as a self-taught artist who learned by observing family and friends. He completed his BA in museum studies at the Institute of American Indian Arts, Santa Fe (2007), and while there took beadwork classes from noted beadwork artist Teri Greeves. Since 2003, he has participated in the Southwest Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA) Annual Indian Market, Santa Fe, and since 2006 in the Heard Museum Annual Indian Market and Festival, Phoenix. Williams Jr.’s work has been widely exhibited and has garnered many awards. It is in many prominent collections, including the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian, Heard Museum, Museum of Indian Arts and Culture (MIAC), Montclair Art Museum, Utah Museum of Natural History, Utah Arts Council, National Museum Scotland, and the Hood Museum at Dartmouth College, as well as many private collections nationwide.
About the Corning Museum of Glass
In 2026, the Corning Museum of Glass celebrates 75 years as the foremost authority on the art, history, and science of glass. It is home to the world’s most important collection of glass, including the finest examples of glassmaking spanning 3,500 years. Live glassblowing demonstrations (offered at the Museum and on the road) bring the material to life. Daily Make Your Own Glass experiences at the Museum enable visitors to create work in a state-of-the-art glassmaking studio. The campus in Corning includes The Studio, a year-round glassmaking school celebrating 30 years in 2026, and the Rakow Research Library, with the world’s preeminent collection of materials on the art and history of glass. Located in the heart of the Finger Lakes Wine Country of New York State, the Museum is open daily 9 a.m.– 5 p.m. from April through December. Winter Hours (January–March) are 9 a.m.–5 p.m. on Monday – Tuesday, Thursday – Sunday (closed Wednesdays). Children and teens, 17 and under, receive free admission.
Images
Ken Williams Jr., photo courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass
Ken Williams Jr., I Am the Hungry Cat (detail), 2026, 40th Rakow Commission Corning Museum of Glass Media
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