An artist whose work—and life—celebrates freedom, curiosity, and joy.

When you meet Sally Fleming, you quickly realize she embodies the same spirit that infuses her art—curious, colorful, and full of life. A Chicago native who has called Summerville home for several years, Sally brings nearly eight decades of creativity to every piece she makes. From sculpture and hand-built clay vessels to tissue paper paintings and bold canvases, her work is a reflection of a lifetime spent exploring, experimenting, and simply doing.

“It has always been something that I’ve done,” Sally says. “Be it painting, sculpture, jewelry making, stained glass, tissue paper—always trying new things, because life is very short.”

A Life Shaped by Art and Adventure

Sally’s artistic journey began long before Summerville. After growing up in Chicago, she studied art at Iowa Wesleyan College and Southern Illinois University, majoring in art and immersing herself in painting and sculpture. Her love for creating continued through every season of life—from her years in Tennessee, where she spent over a decade as part of a vibrant artist community, to her move to South Carolina to be closer to family.

Today, Sally works primarily in clay, crafting expressive sculptures, wall hangings, and hand-built vessels that each carry a sense of movement and freedom. She also paints, often blending color and form in unexpected ways, using her artist’s eye to bring energy to every surface she touches.

“My artistic style is freeing,” she explains. “In painting, it usually starts with something I’ve seen or a photo I’ve taken. For a vessel or sculpture, it starts in my mind and works its way to the clay. I see it—and then I do it.”

Art That Brings Joy

For Sally, creativity is instinctive. Inspiration can strike anywhere—while traveling, walking through a store, or simply watching the world move around her. Her goal is beautifully simple: to create work that makes people feel joy.

“I hope my art evokes enjoyment in others,” she says. “I know a piece is finished when I’m at peace with it—when I know I’ve done my best.”

That spirit of peace and play comes through in every creation, from her whimsical tissue paper paintings—which have become a favorite among collectors—to her textured clay sculptures that feel both grounded and alive.

A Heart for Community

Having been part of a creative circle in Tennessee for 11 years, Sally knows the value of artists coming together to share ideas, laughter, and inspiration. She’s found that same spirit here at Art on the Square Gallery.

“It’s wonderful to be part of a community of artists again,” she says. “We all share ideas and thoughts—it’s something special.”

Her connection with collectors often begins with curiosity. One of her favorite stories from the gallery is a testament to that:

“A gentleman came in and saw a tissue paper painting on display. I told him it was made with colored tissue paper, and he didn’t believe me,” she recalls with a smile. “I explained the process while I was working nearby. He left and came back a few times, still unsure. Later, his wife came in and asked me to mark it sold—it was going to be his Christmas present! It now hangs in his office.”

Moments like that remind Sally why she creates: to spark wonder and connection, to show people something new and unexpected.

Living Artfully

Beyond the studio, Sally’s life is as full and creative as her work. She’s a mother, grandmother, pickleball player, and activist, all while maintaining the curiosity of someone who still finds magic in a handful of clay or a fresh idea.

Her advice to other artists—especially those just beginning—is as freeing as her art itself:

“Try it all. Open every door to art, because each one is a new adventure that leads to something bigger and better.”

Where Her Art Lives

Sally imagines her art in homes and offices filled with warmth and personality—spaces where people value creativity, color, and conversation. Her work spans a wide range of forms and prices, from prints and small paintings to original sculptures and vessels, making her art accessible to every kind of collector.

“I hope people see something new and different,” she says. “Something that adds joy to their collection.”

You can explore Sally’s ever-evolving body of work in person at Art on the Square Gallery in Summerville, SC, where each piece invites you to look closer, smile wider, and remember the simple truth that art—and life—are meant to be lived to the fullest.