Anyone who has visited Mary Beaudry’s gallery and frame shop on Dragon Street can attest to her talent for identifying and developing indie artists, curating a vast array of framing options and amassing an eclectic collection of artworks over four decades. Even if you know that her collection of more than 5,000 treasures includes a mountain of vintage movie posters and gems from Picasso, Renoir and Frank Lloyd Wright, there’s a lot about Beaudry that may surprise you. A rebrand and a new location are the highlights, but they are just part of the picture.
Beaudry and her 24-year-old son, Nicholas, have been living in the warehouse for two years. “I was working 24/7 and a friend needed a place to live so I decided to move into the warehouse,” says Beaudry, who notes that she had to close the gallery during the pandemic but toughed it out with her son, three cats and dog. “In August of 2021, we moved back home and are delighted to be living in a space with windows and a kitchen!”
Despite closing the gallery, Beaudry made more than $1 million in framing, which has been the bread and butter of the business since she opened it in 1991. All the frames are sourced through more than 50 suppliers and built by women using a $12,000 saw before being shipped around the country. The team cuts the glass and wood by hand and joins the nails of every frame.
“I look at pictures upside down to get a true perspective for the perfect frame,” says Beaudry.
When the Texas Rangers opened a new billion-dollar stadium, Beaudry framed all the photographs for the suites. She won the project when she pulled out the perfect sample for framing—a beautiful black wood frame with a rich texture that was reminiscent of Texas.
Beaudry began her career in the art world in 1980 and arrived in the Design District in 1991. Over the years, she has moved seven times. Each move created more space for her to expand her vision. Her next move to John Carpenter Freeway in Dallas in early 2022 represents the culmination of her dreams.
The new building is located at the intersection of routes 35 and 183 and will feature gallery space, the frame shop and Beaudry’s collection. It will also have event space for pop-up shows with local talent and celebrities. “It’s a brand-spanking-new building that features gorgeous space and 45 parking spaces. I fought for three months to get space. It is the vision of what I wanted to pursue,” says Beaudry.
The business will simply be known as Beaudry going forward. “The move is a great opportunity to elevate Beaudry and the artists we represent,” says new gallery director Chris Lockhart, who adds that he joined the team because “it’s the most high-octane shop in Dallas.”
Along with a stellar roster of artists that will move to the new space, Lockhart is cherry-picking new artists to show in the gallery. “We are raising the bar of who we represent,” he says. “We can’t wait to welcome designers, customers and the community to experience the ‘The Place for Art.’” *
Stacey Marcus is a Boston-based freelance lifestyle, luxury and travel writer. Her works have appeared in Art New England, Boston, Boston Common Magazine, Coastal Design Magazine, Charleston Style & Design, Modern Luxury Chicago, Ocean Home Magazine, Playboy.com, RD.com and many others. A lover of big words and little white dogs, Stacey’s biggest joys are found in life’s simple moments.
