A.R.T.isans reach out with consumer-facing Facebook presence
The Artisans Revolution in Tile (A.R.T.) program, sponsored by NTCA, LATICRETE, Daltile and others, has generated a loyal following of seasoned tile artisans who were inspired to take their craft to the next level. Three of those tile setters recently announced distinct offshoots from their established tile setting businesses, dedicated to the pursuit of mosaics and custom work for their clients.
Evolution Mosaics
One artisan from the 2024 A.R.T. program is Jeff Occhipinti of Columbia River Tile & Stone in Portland, Ore. Occhipinti is an NTCA Five-Star Accredited contractor and the recipient this year of the NTCA Residential Tile Setter Craftsperson of the Year Award. With a presence on Facebook and Instagram and at https://www.columbiarivertileandstone.com/evolution-mosaics/ or evolutionmosaics.com websites, Evolution Mosaics specializes in “handcrafted mosaics for art, design and architectural installations.”
Occhipinti’s experience with mosaics started in 2007, between jobs, installing mosaic inlays on vintage tables with tile or stone remnants from past projects. Before long, he started building his own Mission-style tables and topping them with unique, nature-themed mosaics, selling them at a local market. In 2010, Occhipinti’s wife Robin – a professional artist and designer – joined the business. Art-based mosaics took a backseat as the Occhipintis built up the Columbia River Tile & Stone’s high-end residential tile setting business, but a trip to Europe reinvigorated their passion for mosaics. This passion caught fire when Occhipinti attended the A.R.T. program. Now Evolution Mosaics is led by Robin as Art Director, working beside Jeff and artistically-talented Certified Tile Installers, with two of their crew attending the 2025 A.R.T. class.
Spolvero Mosaics
Lucas Hendrickson, who rebranded his Auburn, Wash., tile setting business as Northwest Artisan Tile Company after attending the program in 2023, recently spawned Spolvero Mosaic, which derives its name from a process of transferring a full-scale drawing or cartoon onto the final surface. The lines of the drawing are pricked with small holes and a fine pigment powder is dusted through those holes onto the mosaic substrate, leaving a dotted outline of the image on the surface beneath.
Hendrickson, an NTCA Ambassador, learned from other experienced mosaic artists at the Coverings show this year that it is useful to market mosaics to the public in a targeted way, apart from general construction photos.
“I never thought of myself as an artist,” he said. “I don’t think I had a definition of what it meant in my head. It was very elusive to me, but now I feel the muse. Being around the A.R.T. community, you cannot help but identify the inner artist in you; that has been a blessing. I wanted to create a page where I could post completed projects of my work, because art should be seen, even if I never sell any of it.”
Hendrickson added, “I will be taking commissions – and I am doing a few commissions right now; rather large ones actually! At least for me they’re large,” he joked. Find Spolvero Mosaic on Facebook.
Outlaw Mosaics
Michael Sandell, Owner of Michael’s Tile & Stone Installation in Savannah, Ga., attended the A.R.T. Training last year, with 35 years of hands-on experience in tile and stone installation under his belt. He calls his spin-off Outlaw Mosaics the “next chapter in a lifetime of craftsmanship.” It “blends gritty craftsmanship with bold artistic expression.
From precise installations to one-of-a-kind mosaic creations, Outlaw Mosaics brings passion, skill and a rebellious edge to every piece.” After three and half decades in the industry, the A.R.T. workshop with instructors Lee Callewaert and Joshua Nordstrom inspired Sandell and elevated his passion for his work from the day-to-day monotony he was grappling with. “I have a new love for the industry,” he said. Find Outlaw Mosaics on Facebook and Instagram.
Tile Artisan Showcase
Another endeavor has captured the passion of some of the A.R.T. participants – a consumer-facing, “home improvement” Facebook page called Tile Artisan Showcase. It was birthed by a suggestion from TileWorks Executive Director Katia McGuirk. She wanted to know where to direct attendees at TileFest 2025 in May who were interested in learning more about the artisan tile setters from A.R.T. who were fabricating a complex mosaic of Henry Chapman Mercer’s home Fonthill during the festival (visit https://www.tileletter.com/tilefest-celebrates-25th-anniversary/ for the skinny about TileFest this year).
2023 A.R.T. participant Chris Resti of Crest Tile and Mosaic LLC of Hilton, N.Y. – with an assist from others in the artisan tile movement – established this Facebook page to give A.R.T. graduates an opportunity to reach potential clients and share their artistry. “We are looking to promote the tile artisan movement, and are looking for projects and posts that promote bringing tile ‘back to our roots,’ Resti said.
Lesley Goddin has been writing and journaling since her first diary at age 11. Her journey has taken her through a career in publishing and publicity, landing her the editor position of TileLetter and its special publications in 2006. Her goal is to educate, inspire, recognize and encourage those in the tile industry -- especially the tile and stone contractor.
