Method to the mosaic

Minimalist homes are all the rage, and we get why. But consider adding a hint of boho with mosaic art, something that’s making a big splash in home décor.

Known for turning around everything from walls to quaint balconies and grand gardens with her mosaic tile art, Bengaluru’s Sarah Kurien is most-sought after for the feat. A tête-a-tête with the self-taught artist leads us to exactly why.  

Blending art, architecture and design, mosaic tiles have been one of the oldest forms of wall and floor coverings with ancient Greeks and Romans even whisking detailed stories with them.

But Sarah confesses that she stumbled upon it, by chance. “It all started 10 years ago. I quit the corporate world after my second son was born. I was always creatively inclined and I discovered mosaic art quite by accident,” she tells us. Once she started experimenting, there was no turning back, for she didn’t mind leaving behind her degree in electrical engineering for the tiles. “I began working from home and found that popular décor stores in the city liked my work and were willing to sell it,” she says, now the proud owner of her own mosaic studio in Koramangala called Tesserae, something that incidentally means little pieces of tile, glass and pebbles creatively put together to create a work of mosaic art. “Sounds exotic and means everything in my line of work,” muses the 43-year-old.

Sarah’s art sees no boundaries – they can be spotted on everything fromplanters and photo frames to trays, custom name boards, signage, mirrors with mosaic borders and tables in all shapes and sizes.

They find a pride of place as murals (going up to 200 feet!) on walls too, some of which can be spotted at The Hole in the Wall café, Fat Chef restaurant and The Orange Bicycle store in the city.

“Nature is a recurring theme,” she says, something you can’t miss when you spot her mosaic art fashioned into owls, butterflies, frogs and creepers. “I also do a lot of custom work, for which I need to work very closely with my clients. I do creative versions of logos, I’ve recreated mosaic Van Goghs and Hussains and a mosaic world map even,” she says, for the pieces that start from Rs 500.

“Soon, I would love to do some public commissions for public gardens and also work with schools to produce art work with participation from students,” she reflects, her creativity only looking for newer avenues to paint.