Bess Paupeck is a maker of interdisciplinary installations, exhibitions and experiences that forge connection to community, self, story, and our shared humanity. Living life as a work-in-progress, her love for art-making, objects, collections, and communities come together in the offerings she is deeply grateful to create and share with others.

Bess lives in the Boston area as an independent artist and producer, collaborating in the cultural arena, which has included Somerville’s Washington Street Art Center, the Somerville Museum, the Somerville Arts Council, Mad Oyster Studios, and Somerville's Nave Gallery and Nave Gallery Annex and the deCordova Museum and Sculpture Park.  When she is not engaged in her art practice, you can find her professionally working as an experience curator, program and arts producer, and builder of opportunities for public and community partnerships at museums, universities and cultural spaces. 

Through her large scale projects, also known as installation-exhibitions, Bess collaborates with the community, following her model of community curating, and building interactive spaces that often take the form of a gallery show or museum exhibition. The community curated shows have included the 2019 exhibition Our Stories, Our Stuff, Our Somerville at the Somerville Museum in Somerville, MA, the 2023 show Borrowed Time: A Community Sourced Time Machine at the Washington Street Art Center in Somerville MA.

Coming up in early 2028, her next show Come As You Are will be at the Somerville Museum and will feature beloved and meaningful clothing from people's lives. Stay tuned for more information on how to participate, or get in touch directly at: culturalsalt@gmail.com.

(Photo Credit: David Sokol)