I grew up walking on and touching 3000-year-old mosaic floors and murals. I never thought that one day I’d be working with tiny tesserae and these reflections from my childhood to create contemporary mosaic art.
Juror’s Choice, Mosaic Arts International 2008, "Orchis Morio Libanai M1"
Mosaic fine art was not as well known 19 years ago (when I started mosaics) as it is now. Today it is blooming, and it’s a wonderful feeling to see it around us more often.
When I paint I have an idea in mind and try to translate it onto paper or canvas with my colors. But when I try to work with tesserae I become a young child who’s trying to assemble all these shapes and colors to create something exciting.
You are supposed to stand away from a painting to get the whole picture and capture the feeling that the artist put into his work. It’s the opposite in mosaic. You are drawn closer and sometimes even tempted to try and touch what you see. You stare, admire, and discover over and over again. Mosaic takes your eyes and emotions on an artistic journey. The endless materials and creativity used in contemporary mosaic makes it the richest medium ever.
—Carole Choucair Oueijan