All roads lead to TileFest
The third weekend of May, more than 1,000 visitors gathered at The Moravian Pottery and Tile Works in Doylestown, Pa., for the 26th TileFest, an event that brought together tile makers, historians, artists, industry professionals, and “the tile curious.”
Co-sponsored by TileWorks of Bucks County and Tile Heritage Foundation, with support from industry sponsors NTCA, LATICRETE, and Merola Tile, the festival featured more than 62 exhibitors. While many came from the East Coast, first-time exhibitors traveled from across the United States and abroad. Among them were Ben Tyjeski of Milwaukee, Wis., Tim Carder of Stoke-on-Trent, UK, and Ksenia Pirvits of St. Petersburg, Russia.
Beyond the handmade tiles available for purchase, attendees enjoyed educational programs and demonstrations. Tile Heritage Foundation Executive Director of Development Karim Motawi talked about the organization’s growth and the creation of a new National Tile Installation Registry. A “Wild Clay” exhibit showcased work by TileWorks, Walnut St. Pottery, Mesa Lifestyle, and Poesia Pottery, highlighting wild clay’s connection to nature.
Additional attractions included student-created tiles inspired by Henry Mercer’s work, a clay-mixing demonstration using local clay and the 1903 Mascot auger machine, tours of the historic Metropolitan Steam Engine, primitive fire-pit firing demonstrations, and construction of a firebrick pizza oven.
Now in their fourth year at TileFest, alumni tile setters from the Artisans Revolution in Tile (A.R.T.) training program completed and installed a large mosaic of Fonthill Castle, Mercer’s home. The group hand-shaped commercial tile with ring and wet saws and incorporated Mercer tile into the design.
TileFest ‘26 offered an exquisite opportunity to bring together a growing number of attendees from every segment of the industry to meet and network, exponentially expanding the window for growth and connections across the industry.
Albuquerque hosts the CMA2 Conference and Mosaic Month
In March, Contemporary Mosaic Art2 (CMA2), a free worldwide community for mosaic artists of all skill levels, held its conference in Albuquerque, N.M. The event featured workshops, lectures, vendors, a silent auction, and the “Calling Card” exhibit of miniature mosaics crafted in mint tins. Attendees also completed a community project: a mosaic of outstretched hands installed at the Albuquerque Sign Language Academy.
The conference theme was “Connecting Mosaic Artists: Building Community.” Local speakers, including Vanessa Alvarado of Albuquerque Leadership in Mosaic Arts (ALMA), joined presenters from across the U.S. and abroad. Featured talks explored mosaic art as a sacred expression, the impact of public art, and strategies for building businesses within the mosaic community.
Albuquerque expanded the celebration by declaring March a monthlong Mosaic Festival, with exhibits and activities throughout the city and surrounding communities. Highlights included the juried “Pieces of Us” exhibition at Gallery ABQ and “Piece/Peace Mosaic Month” at The Groove Artspace. Groove owner Erika Harding also launched a Youth Arts Program that trained teachers to introduce mosaic-making to 700 students in 17 schools. Floor & Decor donated materials to support the initiative.
Conference co-chair Shelley Beaumont of Healing Mosaics said one goal was to introduce mosaics to younger generations. She noted that mosaic work develops skills in “piece art,” including thinking, planning, craftsmanship, tool use, and math. Young people, she added, can support themselves, attend “a trade school, and be an artist while doing that.”
Albuquerque was selected partly because of ALMA’s youth apprentice training program. Beaumont explained, “We made sure work by ALMA students was included on the tour so the community-based mosaic artists in the group could get an idea of how they can reach out to the young people in their regions.”
A.R.T. welcomes a new class in October 2026
In October, the Artisans Revolution in Tile (A.R.T.) training program will welcome its fourth class of experienced tile setters who want to elevate their craft by learning how to create hand-shaped mosaics. The program is the brainchild of Lee and Jane Callewaert of Dragonfly Tile and Joshua Nordstrom of Tierra Tile, with strong support from NTCA, LATICRETE, Tile Tools and Daltile.
Tile Artisan Training…A Revolution (aka A.R.T.) is an intensive four-day training program that equips experienced tile installers with the skills needed to design, create, and install custom hand-cut tile art. Participants explore the creative process, learn to identify opportunities for marketing artisan work, and gain hands-on experience with design methods, materials, tools, fabrication techniques, and standards-based installation practices.
To date, 46 have completed the program, which has catapulted them to new technical and artistic heights, exploring custom mosaic work for clients, personal artistic projects and public artworks, as well as a strong presence at the Artisan Showcase during Coverings and at TileFest. An intensely supportive community of artisan tile setters has expanded with the completion of each class.
The October 5-9 program will be held at the new CTEF headquarters in Nashville. The new class includes:
- David McGuirk, DLM Flooring, Vacaville, Calif.
- Nick Hofmann, Pokuna Tile LLC, Shelbyville, Ky., CTI #1627
- Rick Missi, Missi Construction, Prospect, Ky.
- Gracelyn Rael, Hawthorne Tile, Portland, Ore.
- Elly Warner, Hawthorne Tile, Portland, Ore.
- Wayne Shore, Shoreline Tile, Amesbury, Mass.
- Jesus Enrique Sanchez, Sanchez Tile, San Angelo, Texas, CTI#1819
- Elijah Enriquez, Enriquez Tile & Remodeling LLC, San Angelo, Texas
- Robb Olson, Footprint Wood & Stone, Lakeville, Minn., CTI #1470
- Bob Shinn, Footprint Wood & Stone, Northfield, Minn.
- Dan Lambert, Lambert Tile & Stone, Inc., Eagle, Colo., CTI #478
- Timothy Hill, Hills Flooring, Long Bottom, Ohio
- Blaine Farber, Dustan Morgan Tile, Nevada City, Calif.
- Justin France, Fairweather Stoneworks and Northwest Artisan Tile Co., Monroe, Wash.
- Mike LoStocco, Columbia River Tile Stone, Milwaukie, Ore.
- Erik Trexel, Level Plane Tile and Stone, Portland, Ore.
In addition to financial support, NTCA also awards every attendee a free yearlong membership to NTCA or, if they are a member, a free membership next year. For more information, email [email protected].
SAMA Conference set for March in Dallas
Get thee to Dallas March 3-7, 2027 for the 2027 American Mosaic Summit organized by the Society of American Mosaic Artists (SAMA). The immersive 3- to 4-day experience welcomes mosaic art enthusiasts, collectors and professional artists for an inspiring and educational program.
In addition, the Mosaic Arts International 2027 exhibit will be on display from February 17-August 22, 2027 at the Museum of Biblical Art Dallas. Currently, Season VII of the One Hundred Moments Project is at the Pittsburgh Glass Corner Gallery in Pittsburgh, PA, through September 25, 2026 and in an online gallery through the end of September. This project is a collection of 6” x 6” mosaic panels to celebrate, educate and inspire excellence in mosaics.
