From historic restorations to unexpected public art and unique material integration, tile artistry continues to evolve.
San Diego bank: a legacy in tile
The Mission Bay Drive Home Savings and Loan Building in San Diego boasts a stunning facade adorned with murals by renowned mosaic and glazed hand-painted tile artist Millard Sheets. These murals capture the essence of California’s history, life, landscape, and cultural identity.
Donato Pompo of CTaSC brought these murals to the attention of TileLetter, noting their personal significance. His father, Vince Pompo, collaborated with Millard Sheets to develop specifications and sell the murals, facades, and interiors for Home Savings and Loan while serving as sales manager for Gladding McBean/Interpace Franciscan Tile. He later continued supplying these materials after purchasing the Franciscan San Diego distributorship in 1975, which became Southwestern Ceramic Tile and Stone Company.
Sheets’ craftsmanship is evident in numerous buildings across California, with installations by Mercury Tile and McCandless Tile in the Los Angeles area. The San Diego murals, described as “spectacular and installed with great craftsmanship,” are slated for preservation during an upcoming building restoration. Beyond the exterior, the interior features vintage Franciscan 12″ x 12″ Terra Floor Flash Walnut colored tiles and 3″ x 6″ Terra Grande on bathroom walls, showcasing the fine craftsmanship of the past.
Going rogue
Inspired by the repair of a sidewalk outside the St. Kate hotel in Milwaukee during the inaugural Artisans Revolution in Tile (A.R.T.) training, creating “rogue mosaics” has become a tradition among A.R.T.isans. At this year’s Coverings event, A.R.T. instructors, assistants, graduates, and local mosaic artists collaboratively adorned an Orlando sidewalk with a vibrant, Florida-themed mosaic.
Recent high school graduate Sam Robinson and her employer/friend Anna McCortney were also bitten by the rogue mosaic bug. Their TikTok channel, @setinstonemosaics, documents their recent creations. Robinson stated they were “inspired to start doing this by the Artisans group after our trip to Coverings, and meeting so many incredible people,” Robinson said. “We can’t wait to keep creating and hope more people will be inspired to do the same!”
Future rogue mosaics are anticipated in Nashville during the A.R.T. training in late September, and A.R.T.isans are already scouting locations for next year’s TileFest in Doylestown, Pa.
Speed Racer: art from the track
UK mosaic artist David Arnott has elevated his craft by incorporating actual race car parts into his latest mosaic of Formula 1 driver Ayrton Senna. Sourced from the Silverstone Race Track, home of the British Grand Prix, the piece includes McLaren 620R pistons, engine connecting rods, brake pads, trackside cladding, stones, damaged barriers, and burned-out tires. This unique mosaic will be auctioned live at Escapade Silverstone, blending high-octane engineering with intricate artistry.
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.
