Harold Washington College Professor Honored with National Maxwell/Hanrahan Award in Craft

Harold Washington College Associate Professor of Art Paul Wandless has been named one of five recipients of the 2026 Maxwell/Hanrahan Awards in Craft.

The prestigious national award celebrates artists who reimagine traditional crafts in new and creative ways. Paul's work spans ceramics, printmaking, sculpture, stone carving, leatherworking, and metalsmithing. The award, launched in 2022, has quickly grown to one of the country's largest awards in the field. Each cycle, it recognizes five artists who receive a financial grant of unrestricted funds to support their art and innovation as part of the award.

Growing up in the small town of Smyrna, Delaware, Paul enjoyed making art, but didn't think he could make a career out of it. That changed after taking ceramics and sculpture classes in college, where two professors encouraged him to pursue his passion. Today, Paul is an artist, author, and educator who strives to give Harold Washington College students that same encouragement.

Since joining the faculty at Harold Washington in 2009, Paul has helped grow the college's 3D design and sculpture program. What began as a single classroom has expanded into a dedicated studio space where students can explore sculpture and discover new creative interests.

"As a teacher, you have an opportunity to reach people who just don't know what they want to do," he said. "You can inspire them and give them the tools to make their own discoveries about what they're really good at and what they want to pursue."

Receiving the Maxwell/Hanrahan Award came as a surprise to Paul. Because recipients are anonymously nominated by their peers, he said simply being invited to apply was an honor.

"It was really humbling to be nominated," he said. "Then, when I found out I was one of the recipients, I had to read the email twice."

For Paul, the award is more than recognition of his own work; he hopes it also inspires the next generation of artists.

"If students don't see someone who looks like them doing something professionally, they may not believe it's possible," he said. "I want them to know there is a place for them."

As he prepares for another academic year, Paul looks forward to helping more students discover their own creativity, just as his mentors helped him discover his.

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