Podcasts

In Episode 46 of Inside the Frame Podcast, the Frame Center welcomes back the ever-inspiring Sally Dean, a multi-talented artist whose creative energy and community spirit continue to make a powerful mark across the South Shore. From murals and prints to puppets and public installations, Sally’s work blends vibrant artistry with heartfelt storytelling and a deep connection to people and place.

Painting Beyond the Frame

Sally’s artistic journey spans decades and mediums. Though she resists being labeled strictly a muralist, murals have become a prominent outlet for her expressive and collaborative energy. Her recent large-scale works include the inspiring mural at Hanover Crossing, created in partnership with the North and South Rivers Watershed Association. That mural celebrates restored waterways and returning herring populations—a poetic intersection of art and environmental activism. Sally’s passion for accessible public art is evident in her approach: working with schools, local organizations, and community volunteers to co-create meaningful visual stories.

She’s also helping curate and hang exhibitions at Alice’s House, a healing space that hosts rotating artwork donated by local artists. Sally’s involvement goes far beyond coordination. She recently created a new mural there using a fascinating material called Polyab, which looks like a traditional wall painting but is fully removable. Her attention to materials, sustainability, and longevity demonstrates how her art is as thoughtful as it is beautiful.

A Community-Fueled Studio Practice

Whether she’s creating a mosaic mural for the Art Complex Museum, developing a selfie mural for Scituate Harbor, or painting whimsical marine animals discovered in a box at the local dump, Sally’s work is grounded in play, purpose, and place. Her current favorite medium, acrylic gouache, allows her to paint expressively and efficiently on paper, often creating daily works on Bristol board from her car studio. These bite-sized pieces of joy stack easily and make art collection more accessible to her followers.

She’s equally prolific behind the scenes at the Art Complex Museum, where she’s served as Education Coordinator for nearly 25 years. From drop-in family art activities and recycled sail lanterns to collaborative murals and summer workshops, Sally leads with creativity and generosity. Her studio in Marshfield is tucked inside a backyard barn, where she welcomes visits by appointment, often alongside her dog.

Art That’s Accessible and Joyful

For Sally, making art is about more than aesthetics. It’s about interaction, joy, and community. Her full moon calendar, now in its fourth year, began as a personal project but has grown into a cherished item for many local fans. She plans to take it further this year by turning the calendar design into a limited-edition woodblock print.

Sally is also dreaming of expanding her offerings into cards, stickers, and small, collectible works that fit easily into people’s homes and lives. “Low-end art,” as she calls it, doesn’t mean lesser. It means more accessible, more joyful, and more inclusive. That philosophy is evident in everything she touches, from puppets for the North River Arts Festival to her collaborative public murals with schools and non-profits.

Frame Center has been proudly serving the South Shore for over 50 years, offering custom framing, curated exhibitions, and a deep commitment to supporting local artists. Whether you’re preserving a cherished memory, building your collection, or discovering new work, our experienced team is here to help you celebrate art in all its forms.