The 19th International Encaustic Conference will take place May 29-31 at Edgewood Farm in Truro, Massachusetts, produced by the Truro Center for the Arts at Castle Hill. The three-day event brings together artists from around the world to celebrate encaustic painting, an ancient medium using pigmented wax, with technical demonstrations, educational programming, networking, juried exhibitions, and extended gallery hours in Wellfleet and Truro. Keynote speaker is artist Portia Munson, known for her maximalist installations exploring consumerism and identity. Pre- and post-conference workshops run May 26 to June 4.
This conference matters because it is the only event exclusively dedicated to encaustic painting, a medium revived in the mid-20th century by artists like Jasper Johns and now considered one of the fastest-growing in contemporary art. Over nearly two decades, it has attracted participants from across the Americas, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, fostering a global community around a historically rich technique. The event also highlights the role of the Truro Center for the Arts at Castle Hill, a year-round creative community founded in 1972, as a hub for specialized artistic practice.