Shopping Boston’s SoWa District: Where Art, Craft & Culture Connect
The Port of Boston is rich in history, culture, food, and art. Its vibrant art scene boasts several renowned museums such as the Institute of Contemporary Art, the Museum of Fine Art, and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. So it's no wonder that Boston is also home to a talented community of new and accomplished artists and artisans, whose work is cherished by visitors from around the world.
Boston, Massachusetts
One can spend days shopping Boston and its surrounding communities, which are filled with handcrafted treasures and creative Things. Due to a last-minute glitch in travel plans, I had only a few hours to explore Boston’s artisan studios and local shops before my cruise departure, so I made a beeline to the city’s vibrant creative district known as SoWa (South of Washington), found in Boston’s South End.
Just a brief taxi ride from the cruise terminal, SOWA is popular for its community of urban housing, contemporary lofts, art galleries, stylish furniture and home décor shops, markets, and restaurants. It is also home to the SOWA Artists Guild.
SOWA Artists Guild: The Heartbeat of Boston’s Creative Culture
The SOWA Artists Guild resides in a historic, renovated brick building at 450 Harrison Avenue, which is home to over 80 working artist studios, 20 galleries, a vintage market, and several boutique shops featuring handcrafted goods from local makers. It is THE destination in Boston to buy original art in a variety of mediums.
From painting to printmaking and pottery to photography, visitors discover Boston’s best collection of original art along with handcrafted fashion, accessories, gifts, and decor at SOWA Artists Guild.
The best days to visit the artists in their studios are on First Fridays of each month and Sundays. On Sundays from May-September, the Guild hosts SOWA Open Market, where artists welcome guests to watch them create in their studios, while also enjoying a farmer’s market, vintage market, food trucks, live entertainment, and a beer garden. In addition, the SOWA Artists Guild hosts an annual Art Walk in May and a Winter Festival during the holidays.
Although I visited on a quiet weekday when most studios are closed, the building still buzzed with creative energy. Three floors of the building are dedicated to working studios as well as classrooms where fledgling artists can hone their skills in a variety of artistic workshops.
I got to peek into the variety of studio spaces and colorful environments that the artists create in. Most studios feature a gallery of the artist’s work on the walls, while the works in progress are located in a creative niche, usually by a window, to capture the light.
Each studio speaks to the artist’s vibe, with comfortable seating areas surrounded by vibrant workspaces and innovative pieces of contemporary art. I can’t wait to return to SOWA soon and meet the creatives in person!
The Clay Lounge: A Potter’s Retreat in the Heart of SOWA
The Clay Lounge, located on the lower level of the building, is where I met owner/artist Jesse Golden. Jesse has been a ceramic artist for over a decade. He was inspired to take a “Ceramic Sebbatical” across Asia, where he participated in artist residencies, studio visits, and home stays throughout China, Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan. His art is reflective of these ancient styles and traditions.
Jesse took time to tell me about the 15+ potters who create in the Lounge, and teach workshops to future potters. Although the clay starts out the same, each artist brings their own heart and vision to each piece, crafting sculptures and vessels that are truly unique.
As a special treat, Jesse threw a piece of clay on a potter’s wheel and showed me just how mesmerizing pottery making can be. His artful hands worked slowly upward, gracefully shaping sinuous lines that led to the lip, where he skillfully dove into the center of the clay to create a perfect vase.
On my way out, Jesse showed me the growing clay garden at the entrance to the shop, which is a work of art in itself as the pieces of pottery intertwine with nature’s beauty.
Wyllo: A Celebration of Female Creativity
Just a few steps from the Clay Lounge, I discovered Wyllo, a fabulous boutique founded by jewelry artist Alyssa Russo. This shop features an eclectic array of handcrafted fashions, accessories, art, and gifts created by local artists, designers, and makers. Wyllo’s distinction is that all of their 50+ artists and makers are FEMALE creatives.
Visitors to Wyllo will discover a variety of handmade, small batch specialty items, including:
· Candles by Luyao Qiu
· Pottery by Kaila Gilmore
· Panted Denim Jackets by Deirdre Sidlauskas
· Knits by Julia Steen
· Photography by Mickey West
And much, much, more, including fun cocktail kits for crafting cool summer beverages! Wyllo is the kind of boutique that turns browsing into a treasure hunt, and every item has a story.
The Trove on Tremont: Boston’s Handcrafted Haven
Trove on Tremont, while not technically located in SoWa, is found in Boston’s South End, just a few minutes’ walk from the SOWA Artists Guild. This women-owned handcrafted boutique features art from over 30 local female artists and makers.
Walking into Trove on Tremont, visitors are enveloped in a sea of colorful craftsmanship and creativity. The store offers a curated collection of art, fashion, home décor, jewelry, and even custom sweets designed for today’s culinary connoisseurs. Visitors discover unique, Boston-crafted items from the following brands and artisans:
Morrison Mae
Co-owner Molly Phillips creates handcrafted silver jewelry. Each piece is meticulously shaped by her hand from beginning to end, using traditional metalsmithing techniques and the finest sterling silver and gemstones.
Clover B
Co-owner Rachel Berger creates beautiful jewelry featuring unique gems from around the world, including birthstones, opals, jade, turquoise, hematite, and more. She skillfully crafts each one-of-a-kind gem into dazzling rings, necklaces, earings, and more.
Biccara
Co-owner Elena Guisasola crafts stunning hand-decorated glass plates and trays designed with elegant color prints and floral designs that look like they’ve been picked fresh from the garden.
Charged Glassworks
Co-owner Sarah Michalik hand-makes colorful handblown glass art, décor, and jewelry. She creatively blends traditional craftsmanship with modern designs influenced by her experiences around the world.
Row House Creative
Artist Emily Finney was in store when I visited and was a delight to speak with. Her pride in the store and fellow artisans was clearly evident. Emily creates upcycled linen and quilted fashions, accessories, even dog beds and bandanas.
LabHouse
This small-batch perfumery is from the heart of perfumer Miriam Shechet, who creates enchanting fragrances for both men and women. Each scent is distinct and unique to the person wearing the fragrance.
Petite Sakura
Culinary artisan Kyoko brings her passion for food and art to the kitchen, where she experiments with flavors and techniques to bake spectacular pieces of confectionary art. Her cakes, cupcakes, cookies, candies, and dessert boards are in high demand, due to their colorful hand-painted beauty and divine taste. Art that is almost too beautiful to eat.
(I said almost!)
A visit to The Trove on Tremont is a must on any Boston shopping itinerary when looking for authentic, local, handcrafted wearable art, gifts, and home décor.
Visiting Boston’s SOWA Artists Guild and Design District: Tips For The Trip
Whether visitors are looking for original art or handcrafted home décor, Boston’s SOWA District and South End is a vibrant shopping destination especially crafted for them. Here are some tips for planning a visit to this creative community.
· Take a taxi or rideshare from Boston’s cruise port to the South End
· Wear comfy shoes and enjoy walking Boston’s historic streets
· Visit the SOWA Artists Guild on First Fridays or Sundays
· Enjoy SOWA Open Market festivities on Sundays from May-September
· Leave room in your suitcase for one-of-a-kind treasures from Boston!
Next - Come along as I explore one of San Diego’s most treasured artistic havens—the Spanish Village Art Center in the heart of beautiful Balboa Park. We'll wander through colorful courtyards, step inside working studios, and meet the talented artists who bring this vibrant space to life.
Till then, keep cruisin’ through life, discovering your own special Things!
CHEERS!
Love the artisan items featured here but can’t make the trip? Visit our SHOP page to discover similar Things handcrafted by artisans – delivered straight to your door!