Mosaic Masterpieces

Mosaic, or the art of assembling small pieces of glass, shell or other material to create an image, is an artform that has been around for thousands of years. People all over the world developed different styles of the same form of art as far back as Mesopotamia in West Asia and the Maya Civilization in Mexico and Central America. 

Very early mosaic artists used items they could find around them like shells, stones, and ivory to create a larger image, often of daily life, such as hunting, fishing, arts and crafts. As the art form developed and people had access to more sophisticated materials like glass, the subjects of the art matured as well. Some popular imagery included mythological stories, religious iconography, and land or sea scapes. 

Today, artists still largely use glass materials to create their mosaic work but some artists like Philadelphia local, Isaiah Zagar, use found items like handmade tiles, bottles, mirrors and even bike parts. Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens (click here) is a non-profit organization and museum showcasing Zagar’s immersive mixed medium art studio turned museum. Zagar took mosaic art to the next level, mosaicking over 200 walls and buildings in his 50 year art career. 

If you aspire to carry on in Zagar’s tradition, perhaps on a smaller scale, check out the supplies we have available on our Auction App. This week we are highlighting a collection of glass used in mosaic art or stained glass. There are different shapes, colors and sizes offered together in a lot that would inspire any artist’s next great project. Place a bid today!