Art Mosaic Artists

We’re all familiar with the mosaic tile that decorates our bathrooms and kitchens. You’ll find mosaic art in the design of pools, too. Aside from these familiar spaces, there are many other unconventional uses and art forms that incorporate mosaic artistry. For instance, in Barcelona, architect Antonio Gaudi used mosaic tiles to articulate the undulating forms found in Parc Guell. Modern artists have developed mosaic techniques and patterns using unusual materials, such as pebbles and buttons.

Patricia Rockwood, a mosaic artist working in Sarasota, FL, embellishes mirror frames with glass beads and crafts fish scales from pennies. She has created a window valence from mosaic tiles, and fashioned a mosaic “runner” spilling over the edge of a mosaic tiled occasional table.

In Naples, FL, Judith Auclair collects unique shells from all over the world and then combines them into eccentric home decor such as mirror frames, lamp bases, and tables. Her shop, Maison Auclair, is so filled with furniture and accessories, that it’s hard to imagine she’s the creator of all those pieces. Her work is called “Shell Art”, and it’s much more sophisticated than much of the kitchy shell-encrusted work you’ll find at arts and craft shows.

Molly B. Right paints her designs onto sheet metal. Then she applies bottle caps over the image to create Bottle Cap mosaics. The resulting images have an almost photographic realism to them, which adds to the viewer’s surprise when they realize the medium is reclaimed bottle caps.

Jeffrey Bale found a use for his lifetime collection of pebbles, when he learned how to create mosaic art with them. For an article in FineGardening ezin, he made a Pebble Mosaic “rug” inspired by Persian carpet design. Once he’s satisfied with his design, he sets the pebbles in mortar.

NJ Transit commissioned mosaic artist Yakov Hanansen to design mosaic illustrations for a new entrance structure at New York City’s Penn Station. He made eleven panels, and each was set into the marble surface on either side of the escalator that takes commuters down to the train station below.

The New York City subway system has hired mosaic artists to create station-specific mosaic art for many years. There’s even a Web site that lets you search for specific subway stations and view photos of the mosaics created for each station.

MetroNorth Commuter Railroad, which serves Westchester and Connecticut destinations, also has an environmental art program. For example, the train station at Dobbs Ferry NY, on the Hudson Line, welcomes travelers home with a large scale mosaic mural of stylized flowers in bright colors.