For 35 years, Kate Lydon was Director of Exhibitions at Contemporary Craft (CC) and oversaw the installation of exhibitions at CC’s main Strip District galleries and at the BNY Mellon satellite gallery in downtown Pittsburgh. She participated in all decisions regarding exhibition development, selection of work, touring of exhibitions and development of public programming. Lydon received dual degrees in Art History and French at Denison University in OH and a master’s degree from the Archival, Museum and Editing Program at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. With her years of experience in arts management she offers a strong working knowledge of the contemporary craft field, artist and process, and public education about craft. Prior to joining CC, Lydon served as registrar for The Frick Art & Historical Center in Pittsburgh and as exhibitions coordinator at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts.
She has been an adjudicator for Best of 2016, Ohio Craft Museum, Columbus, OH (2016); Tranquility and Turmoil Exhibitions, Studio Art Quilt Associates, Inc., Hebron, CT (2016); Craft Art Festival, Florida CraftArt, St. Petersburg, FL (2014) and the Tennessee Arts Commission, Individual Artist Fellowship in Craft (2010). She has also participated on jury panels for Tabletop, The Art League, Alexandria, VA (2016); 60th Annual Boardwalk Art Show, Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, Virginia Beach, VA (2016); Craft Expo 2015, Guilford Art Center, Guilford, CT (2015); 2014 Artist Awards Competition, The Society of Arts and Crafts, Boston, MA (2013); 2014 Smithsonian Craft Show, Washington, DC (2013); Craftboston 2013, The Society of Arts and Crafts, Boston, MA (2012); Kentuck Festival of the Arts, Kentuck Art Center, Northport, AL (2012), the Massachusetts Cultural Council, Individual Artist Fellowship/Crafts (2009); Greater Columbus Arts Council, Individual Artist Fellowship Selection (2004); Best of 2004, Ohio Craft Museum, Columbus, OH (2004) and ACC Southeast Region Spotlight 2004 Exhibition, Tamarack, Beckley, WV(2004).
Lydon served on the Board of Governors of Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts in Gatlinburg, TN from 2006-16 and the Board of Directors of The National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) as 2018 On-site Liaison-Pittsburgh, PA. She was a Presidential Appointee for Special Projects on the NCECA Board of Directors from 2022-25.