Alumni Exhibitions & Awards

Handmade: 2026 Juried Alumni Biennial

This year’s Alumni Exhibition is a juried show and part of Craft in America’s Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026, a nationwide Semiquincentennial initiative honoring the enduring importance of the handmade. From traditional techniques passed down through generations to contemporary interpretations that explore the handmade in new ways, the works in this exhibition reflect the creativity, skill and care that define craft today. For this exhibition, craft is defined broadly, encompassing arts made in clay, fibers, glass, metal, wood and other materials. Works may be functional or nonfunctional, decorative, wearable, 3-D printed, conceptual, sculptural, traditional or nontraditional.

Submissions from Moore alumni across all class years and majors were invited for consideration during the open call period. The submission window closed on January 5, 2026.

The exhibition is juried by Leila Cartier ’04 (Executive Director, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft), whose expertise ensures a thoughtful and dynamic selection of alumni artists.

Key Dates:

Submission Window: November 14, 2025 – January 5, 2026
Selection Notification: Mid-March, 2026
Accepted Works Due to The Galleries: May 26 – June 3, 2026
Opening Reception: June 12, 2026
Exhibition Dates: June 13 – August 29, 2026

About the Juror

Leila Cartier ‘04 earned her BFA in Art History and Studio Art from Moore College of Art & Design, studying a year at Temple University Rome, and later completed an MFA in Painting and Drawing at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (2009). Cartier served as Director of Exhibitions at the William King Museum of Art (2010–2015), and then led CraftNOW Philadelphia as Executive Director (2016–2023), expanding arts access citywide. Since 2023, she has served as Executive Director of Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, growing revenues past $2M, leading post-Hurricane Beryl recovery, and supporting a new strategic plan that will emphasize leadership in the field and a reimagined facility.

Distinguished Alumni Awards

The Distinguished Alumni Awards recognize the outstanding professional achievements of Moore alumni, their dedication to the College, and their contributions to the field of visual arts.

Honorees are nominated by members of the Moore community and celebrated at Moore’s annual Commencement ceremony, where their accomplishments are recognized among graduates, families and the broader Moore community.

2026 Distinguished Alumni Award Honoree

Kate Rohrer '05 (Interior Design)

Kate Rohrer ‘05 moved to Philadelphia in 2001 from Bucks County to attend Moore College of Art & Design, where she received her BFA in Interior Design. While at Moore, she waited tables and poured cocktails in the evenings at The Continental, a flagship restaurant by Stephen Starr. Experiencing the impact and energy of the restaurant’s design firsthand further inspired Rohrer’s passion for hospitality design and continues to inform many of her projects to date, both operationally and aesthetically.

Rohrer began her career in 2005 at Daroff Design, where she continued to cultivate her skills at a boutique interior design studio, gaining a deep understanding of the business. In 2014, she took the leap to start her own design studio, ROHE Creative. She was one of the first boutique hospitality design studio founders in the area and dove right into the local market. Rohrer now has 21 years of experience in the industry and brings a unique understanding of design, past and present, to the table. She has led her female-owned and operated design studio through many award-winning projects and continues to receive accolades for creating compelling restaurant and hotel experiences, not just in Philadelphia but beyond.

Rohrer has worked on concepts for Starwood Capital Group, BR Guest Restaurants, Mina Group, MGM Resorts International, Starr Restaurants, LDV Hospitality, Ritz-Carlton, Marriott International, Hilton, and Hyatt, among many others. She was awarded 2017’s Best Restaurant Designer by Philadelphia Magazine and has been featured in Food & Wine, Martha Stewart, Domino, Elle Décor, Wallpaper, Design*Sponge, Architectural Digest, Forbes and Philadelphia Magazine’s New Power List. She was also honored by industry peers at Hospitality Design Magazine as a recipient of their 2019 Wave of the Future Award.

Rohrer is a self-proclaimed forever student who remains open and curious about all things design and hospitality-related. When she’s not leading her team and their projects, you can find her dining out, exploring hotels, and scouring antique stores, flea markets, and auctions around the globe. Locally, you can find her on the beaches of Cape May or settling into her new home in Chestnut Hill with her partner, Stephen; her thirteen-year-old son, Oliver; five-year-old daughter, Dottie; and their brand-new baby sister, Edie.

Fitzgibbon Endowed Alumni Prize

The Fitzgibbon Endowed Alumni Prize was established in honor of Cecelia Fitzgibbon, who served as the 10th President of the College. Each year, Moore alumni are invited to submit an original essay or poem responding to the prompt, “What Moore means to me," for a chance to win up to $5,000. 

2025 Fitzgibbon Endowed Alumni Prize Winner

Sandra Alexander '92 (Graphic Design)

Sandra Alexander '92 began her career in publishing and advertising before serving as Senior Director of Creative Services at Comcast. In 2006, she founded Dessa Lea Productions, a multidisciplinary studio offering brand strategy and design, and launched the  Bucklette®, a women’s fashion accessory, later expanding into jewelry and accessories. Following the birth of her son and a move to New England, she shifted to a freelance design model. Today, her studio supports small businesses and nonprofits with branding, marketing, and web design. Alexander has run the Stonington Borough Art Walk in Stonington, Conn., since 2022, serves on the communications team for Avalonia Land Conservancy, and is a board member of the Stonington Cultural District Commission. She lives in Stonington, Connecticut, with her husband, son and a barn cat, finding inspiration in her home and garden.