PHOENIX, AZ.- The vibrant tradition of Katsina carving tradition comes to vibrant life at the Heard Museum’s 23rd Annual Katsina Doll Marketplace: A Gathering of Carvers, on April 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. During this free event, known as the largest gathering of Hopi Katsina carvers in the country, guests will get a chance to meet renowned artists, collectors and enthusiasts inside the museum’s Steele Auditorium. There will also be live carving demonstrations and music for attendees to enjoy.

“This event is a unique opportunity to learn about and purchase Katsina dolls directly from Hopi carvers,” said Kelly Gould, Heard Museum Director of Retail operations. “It’s a chance to learn directly from carvers the profound meaning of dolls that have been created for generations. It’s a truly moving art form.”

The museum will host a juried competition during the event that all participating artists can enter. The entries must be submitted in person to the Heard Museum Shop by April 4 at 3 p.m. to be considered. Winners will be announced at 4 p.m. on the same day.

Guests who visit the marketplace also have the chance to win the 2025 signature Katsina doll, Nataska by Tuvumi Silas (Hopi), and a poster of it signed by all attending artists through a raffle. Raffle tickets can be purchased online at heard.org/event/katsina-marketplace, in person at the shop or by phone at 602-252-8344. Individual tickets are $2 each, or guests can purchase six for $10.

Katsina dolls are carvings traditionally presented as gifts to children during ceremonies held in February and July. They are given with a prayer-wish for future growth and well-being. In addition to this traditional purpose, katsina dolls are carved for sale. The dolls are traditional made from cottonwood root with elements like feathers, hair, and clothes added or incised into the wood. Katsina dolls created in the mid-1900s and beyond are carved in poses that suggest movement, are colorful and often finished with a stain that permits the wood grain to show through.

The 23rd Annual Katsina Doll Marketplace is free to the public. Museum entrance is not included in the event. For more information on the Heard Museum, visit heard.org