Sarah Mennell
Sarah is a ceramic artist & teacher based in Boston. While she’s loved working with her hands and creating things from a young age, she first worked with clay while studying English in college. From there she took a winding path to find her way back to the medium and to building a life in it through work at a community studio in Boston. Her work is driven by the idea of being at play with the materials, and her designs reflect that through playful touches and tactile contrast between raw clay and glossy glazes. She approaches her work and teaching with the idea that the objects we surround ourselves with can be an immense source of joy in our everyday lives, just as working and creating with our hands is.
In Episode 75 of Inside the Frame, Dave sits down with ceramicist Sarah Mennell, who was introduced through Beth Bailey—the artist behind the original Frame Center and Inside the Frame mugs. When Beth wasn’t able to complete the latest order, she connected Dave with Sarah, who stepped in to produce the next round of mugs now being featured and gifted to podcast guests.
Sarah shares her journey in ceramics, including her love for incorporating clean lines and subtle, playful elements—like ghost imagery—into her designs. She also talks about her ability to take on larger-scale projects, like the recent mug order for Frame Center, and what it takes to balance craftsmanship with production.
