Elizabeth Martinez

I like to describe my work as quiet chaos: a random and deliberate mix of tint and shade, smooth and rough, shiny and matte, curved and straight lines. It's my visual language.

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A few years ago, after stepping away from a career in textbook publishing, an introduction to mosaics class immediately ignited something in me. Armed with a fine arts degree and an innate interest, I discovered my passion for fine art mosaics.

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Working with mixed media, I combine traditional and non-traditional materials, oftentimes recycled items and found objects not typically seen in fine art mosaics. One-of-a-kind brooches, foraged items like rusted metal or used screw caps, intermingled with vibrant colored glass, pottery, broken seashells, or a cube of marble challenge my imagination to complete a one-of-a-kind contemporary piece.

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Much of my work is first seen as abstractions with the hope that it will inspire creative dialogue between me and the viewer. My design process is intuitive and I explore relationships of color, combined with my internal discipline for structure, order, and planning.

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For commission work, I involve the art collector with whatever little piece of personal item they may want to incorporate in the mosaic. Be it an heirloom timepiece, earthenware ceramic shards, or a half-pair modern earring, for as long as it draws meaning, value and sentiment to the client, my mosaic pieces become their personal treasures.

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After all, art is personal.

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