By Hannah Kelley
Photos Courtesy of Cindee Moyer
NIADA, the National Institute of American Doll Artists, was founded in 1963 by Helen Bullard, alongside Gertrude Florian, Magge Head, and Fawn Zeller. All makers of handmade dolls, they saw a need for artists of non-play dolls to connect and have their work be recognized as art. The organization has since expanded to include artists from 18 countries, and their dolls highlight cultures from around the globe.
In the words of Gracie Coleman, NIADA’s vice president, the organization is “a vibrant worldwide community of people, connected by the love of art dolls. Our live conferences are akin to family reunions, fostering a warm and welcoming environment for old and new participants. NIADA is open to all who wish to join, and we offer three distinct memberships: elected artists, patrons, and associates.”
Cindee Moyer has been president of NIADA for seven years and said, “I am a member of every committee and team and co-chaired a few conferences during this time. As president, this helps me to keep abreast of what’s happening and have some input by being a part of each team. I feel I have a good working knowledge of each aspect of the organization.”
Giving her added insight into how NIADA has progressed since its inception, Moyer said, “We celebrated 60 years in 2023, and I created a program showing a doll by each artist who had been elected to membership over those 60 years. It was interesting to see the evolution of both the figures as well as the techniques. As the years passed, techniques were fine-tuned, materials evolved, mediums advanced as well as the evolution to more stylized human figures including anthropomorphic, automata, 3D printed pieces, and even gourds. Subject matter has carried through: children, old people, historical figures, fashion, characters, and fantasy figures. It’s in each artist’s hand that the subject takes on her unique interpretation of the doll.”
A testament to the timelessness of its founders’ vision, NIADA’s overall mission has remained the same since the beginning. “We are dedicated to promoting and preserving the art of the handmade doll,” Moyer said. “From armatures to pattern drafting to sculpting, sewing, and design, each artist brings her or his own talents to the art form. We continue the mission by promoting the work of our artists online and at exhibits and teaching new students the basics of creating an art doll, with the hope that they love creating them as much as we do and continue to pass the art form forward.” Importantly, the organization is committed to maintaining a high standard when it comes to the artistry of dollmaking.
All makers of art dolls are eligible to apply to become elected NIADA artists. Moyer said the first step is “to attend one of our annual conferences. There, you would be able to see the work of the NIADA artists. It is both daunting and inspiring to see the work in person. We also recommend an artist critique of your dolls at the conference. There are no requirements as to the medium used.”
Many elected artists go on to help fellow artists, be it through mentorships or coaching. Technology has played a role in propelling this effort forward, in that elected artists can create online courses at their discretion and have them hosted by the online NIADA Academy. “We have had a great response to the NIADA Academy, and students enjoy the convenience of learning online in the comfort of their homes and at their own pace,” Moyer said. “We have 18 active artist members who teach, as well as a Legacy section, where we have courses and videos that were offered by NIADA members who have passed, for a total of 76 classes being offered, including some free short courses to help introduce people to the platform. We see the NIADA Academy as an excellent way to advance our mission to nurture and preserve the art of the handmade doll.”
NIADA members have a chance to gather at an annual conference, where useful tips and feedback can be shared. Moyer explained what the typical experience entails: “The conference opens with a Gallery Night exhibit of dolls by NIADA artists who are in attendance. Over the next few days, there are several doll-related programs, critiques by NIADA artists, a member luncheon, demonstrations by NIADA artists of different techniques, a flea market, and a keynote speaker, culminating with a banquet for all attendees. We also have a fundraising Helper Room, where members donate items for a raffle that is held at the banquet. The conference ends with an Exhibition and Sale of art dolls by NIADA artists that is free and open to the public.”
As president, Moyer has been involved with three virtual conferences. These began during the COVID-19 pandemic, when holding in-person conferences was not recommended. The first one was organized in just three months. It proved to be a welcome distraction for attendees and demonstrated some of the ways virtual platforms could be used.
The first international conference was scheduled to take place in Warsaw, Poland, in October 2025, but it was postponed indefinitely in March. Artist Renata Golaszewska-Adamczyk and her husband, Grzegorz, live in Warsaw, and Moyer said they “spent months researching venues that would work the best for us. The team, which included a Polish/English language interpreter, met regularly to fine-tune exhibitions, programs, and tours. The people of Warsaw were so generous with their spaces and genuinely excited for us to come. It was heartbreaking to have to postpone, but the fear of the unknown in our current world climate forced us to wait until things get more settled. It was an unfortunate turn of events that was outside of our control.” Juliet Pelukh of Ukraine and Marlaine Verhelst of the Netherlands had been instrumental in the event’s planning, as well.
As they did during the COVID-19 pandemic, NIADA members sprang into problem-solving mode with the postponement announcement. Even though the conference will not be held abroad in 2025, canceling an opportunity to meet in person was not an option. As a result, an art school in Mesa, Arizona, is in the works. Moyer said, “Since we just started organizing this, we don’t have firm details yet. Classes will be announced within the next few months. Student maximums are determined by each teacher. We are also planning a Petite Conference for one day ahead of the Art School, where we will have programs, a luncheon, and a group project. We will also have an opening Gallery Night and Exhibition and Sale throughout the week.” (Note: This article was first published in the July 2025 issue.)
Also the result of unexpected world events was the formation of the NIADA Crisis Relief Fund (NCRF). “The idea originated at the start of the war in Ukraine,” Moyer said. “We have four Ukrainian artists who have either been displaced by the war or have family still in Ukraine. As we were discussing the beneficiaries of this fund, we felt that there could be a need by any member of NIADA, and it was written with that in mind. We have been able to help with medical and flood-related needs here in the United States.”
Noting additional accomplishments from recent years, Moyer added, “We now have an online gallery presence at artworkarchive.com where NIADA artists can upload their own dolls to sell or exhibit. We have added two scholarships honoring the legacies of the late Lisa Lichtenfels and E.J. Taylor. I was the project manager on the book NIADA Art Dolls, Continuing the Tradition in 2022, as well as on a new book featuring the final works of the late NIADA artist Lisa Lichtenfels, to be published this summer.” In case that wasn’t enough, Moyer writes, designs the graphics for, and edits the monthly NIADA Artist News, too.
Moyer said, “The heyday of collecting seems to be on hiatus right now. People who ‘get it’ still collect, but we are in a very minimalist period.” However, she remains optimistic about the future of NIADA and doll artists and collectors as a whole: “As any doll lover can attest, once you are hooked, it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. I think we have worked very hard to stay current, take advantage of social media, and continually seek like-minded individuals who share our love of the doll as art.”
