THIRD ANNUAL
Mosaic
Fest
MOSAIC MAGIC all week
October 24-31, 2026
Mosaic Fest
WORLD-RENOWNED MOSAIC ARTISTS
COLLABORATIVE ART ~ EXCLUSIVE WORKSHOPS ~ ART TALKS
free grout kits all week
exclusive workshops
featured Artists
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Arianna Gallo is an Italian-based mosaic artist and owner of Koko Mosaico, an international mosaic studio located in Ravenna, Italy.
At Koko Mosaico, Arianna leads mosaic design and production, supervises international commissions and collaborations, and teaches students and artists worldwide. Her practice combines Ravenna’s ancient mosaic traditions with contemporary visual language.
Her influence spans worldwide, as she has worked alongside international artists and designers, including Domingo Zapata, Valerio Adami, Sung Tieu, and more. Her own work can be seen in museums across the globe from the National Wool Museum in Australia to the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts, including a permanent collection featured at the Ravenna Art Museum in Italy.
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Vera Likk (Vera Belikova) is Venice-based mosaic artist, designer, and educator. A graduate of the Scuola Mosaicisti del Friuli in Spilimbergo, she earned her Master Mosaicist qualification in 2017. Her work explores mosaics across contemporary art, collectible design, and architectural surfaces.
Her work has been exhibited internationally, including at Révélations in Paris and the Ravenna Mosaic Biennale. She teaches internationally, sharing her approach to color, materials, and mosaic composition. Having previously taught three times at The Mosaic Workshop in Austin, Vera returns for the Mosaic Festival to give a lecture on the Spilimbergo school, offering insights into its teaching traditions and her experience as a student.
Her work has been exhibited internationally, including at Révélations in Paris and the Ravenna Mosaic Biennale. She teaches internationally, sharing her approach to color, materials, and mosaic composition. Having previously taught three times at The Mosaic Workshop in Austin, Vera returns for the Mosaic Festival to give a lecture on the Spilimbergo school, offering insights into its teaching traditions and her experience as a student.
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Adriana Cerón is an architect whose work explores the relationship between architecture, neuroaesthetics, nature, and traditional craft techniques. She holds a degree in Architecture from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). She currently develops her professional practice at the studio of Mexican architect Javier Senosiain, where she explores the principles of organic architecture and its capacity to reconnect people with nature and with their own origins.
She also teaches at UNAM, where she shares her knowledge and experience with the next generation of architects. Her work is grounded in the belief that architecture does more than transform landscapes and the spaces we inhabit; it also shapes the way we perceive, feel, and relate to the world around us.
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Dixie Friend Gay is an award-winning visual artist whose work spans public art, mosaic, sculpture, painting, and drawing. Her artwork is fueled by the natural world at microscopic and macroscopic levels. Originally from Oklahoma, Friend Gay graduated from NYU and now runs a full-time studio and public art practice in Houston, TX.
Friend Gay is known for numerous public art commissions nationwide, including projects for Dallas Love Airport, Houston Intercontinental Airport, City of Brea, California, Eastern Washington University, and more. More of her work is held in the collections at several museums around Texas including the Blanton Museum of Art and Huntington Museum of Art.
Her work has been recognized in Americans for the Arts’ “Public Art Year in Review,” received numerous Craftsmanship Awards, and she was named Texas Artist of the Year by the Texas Commission on the Arts.
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Starting off in the Tile trade at 14 years old, Vassallo has worked on everything tile, from commercial and track homes, to high-end residential. He eventually became a licensed California Tile Contractor at 22. What started as a career in custom tile work evolved into a real passion. The spark was entering the world of art and mosaics after being accepted to the first-of-its-kind Artisans Revolution in Tile (A.R.T. program) in 2023.
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J Muzacz creates energetic mosaics and vibrant murals using unique community engagement with people of all ages and abilities. Inspired by cultural diversity, humanitarian leaders, and the natural world, Muzacz bestows reverence on every project by creating site-specific artwork that uniquely speaks to the area’s history and culture, fostering individual empowerment and collective celebration.
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OCOTE’s name comes from the resinous Mexican wood used to start fires, reflecting his purpose to use art as a spark that awakens social consciousness. His murals blend pre-Hispanic symbolism with fluorescent colors to envision a future where technology and ancestral wisdom converge. Having participated in international festivals in Mexico, the United States, and Brazil, alongside numerous exhibitions, Ocote conceives his work as a mystical invocation that impacts daily reality. He is currently experimenting with new digital tools such as animation, pixel art, and artificial intelligence.
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Celso González is a globally recognized Puerto Rican artist. He is best known for creating massive, breathtaking public art installations using distinctive broken ceramic tiles.
Celso works internationally, having created over 200 public art installations all over the world.
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Sheldon Stehman is a New Jersey-based mosaic artist. He draws inspiration from American traditional tattoo styles and uses them frequently in his art. Stehman teaches art and mosaics at a mental health and substance abuse center, helping others slow down and build confidence in themselves.
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Personal Statement:Hi, I’m Sheldon.
I often say that creating saved my life, but what I really mean is that it helped me find my way back to myself and discover a path forward.
I’m nearly a decade into recovery after years of struggling with alcohol abuse and severe anxiety. There was a time I felt completely lost, and art became what guided me back. It taught me to slow down, practice gratitude, notice beauty in the smallest moments, and gently begin putting the pieces of myself back together. It wasn’t just something to do. It became a reason to keep going, a path toward healing, and a new way of seeing myself and my life.
Today, I have the privilege of teaching expressive art and mosaics at a mental health and substance abuse center. My approach is simple: I want people to experience the freedom of creating without worrying about perfection or judgment. I encourage my clients to step outside their comfort zones, trust their own creativity, and discover what they are capable of. For me, the most rewarding part is watching someone create something they never thought they could and realize that the process itself can be a source of confidence, connection, and joy.
My journey into mosaics began with my mom, @thebohemianyaya, who first inspired me to explore the medium. I started experimenting with mosaics over three years ago, and I quickly fell in love with the process. There is something incredibly meaningful about taking individual pieces and transforming them into something unexpected and beautiful.
Eventually, my passion for traditional tattoos collided with my love for mosaics, and @flash_glass_mosaic was born.
What started as an experiment has grown into a creative journey I never could have imagined. I’m incredibly grateful to share my work and my story with all of you, and especially grateful to the tattoo and glass communities for believing in me and continuing to inspire me.
Thank you for being part of the journey.
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Born and raised in Austin, TX, Jacob is a true local talent. With 20+ years of experience in luxury tile installation, he‘s seen and worked in some of the most beautiful residential and commercial spaces Austin has to offer; that same job introduced him to the materials he works with artistically today. Mediums include tile, natural stone and rock, stained glass, and collage. He began creating artwork during the pandemic and has never looked back.
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Dianne Sonnenberg is an internationally recognized indigenous artist born in Toronto, Canada. Based in Austin, Texas since 1992, she creates sculptural and mosaic art for public and private clients worldwide. Among her many accomplishments, she was most recently awarded Best Community Project for “Rise Above :: Stand Strong” at the 2025 Mosaic Arts International Exhibition in Orlando, FL. She is a sought-after instructor across North America, and coordinates community projects through her sponsorship with Austin Creative Alliance.
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With a BA in Architecture from Rice University, Talbot worked for years as a designer and builder of unique and whimsical children’s environments. Many of his works exhibit a childlike sense of playfulness and evoke a deep sense of wonder and delight. Raised in the military, Talbot has traveled the world, and the influences of the cultures and places in which he‘s lived continue to permeate his art.
Talbot lives in a quiet South Congress neighborhood at Casa Neverlandia, a three-story eco-friendly art house/studio/gallery, which he built up himself from a little 1-story bungalow that he bought in 1979 for just $13,000. He even gives tours on the weekends and has been featured in a number of books and media.
These days, Talbot is mostly doing studio art, mixing beads, fiber, wrought iron, colored plexiglass mirror, mosaics, LEDs, casting resin, and ceramics, alongside large and immersive public art installations like his treehouse at the Wildflower Center and an Art in Public Places commission by the city of Austin for Little Stacy Park called "Magic Portal.”
thank you to our sponsors!
All Week Long, October 24–31
Free Grout Kit
WITH EVERY MOSAIC ($15 VALUE!)
Free t-Shirt
WITH EVERY INTRO MOSAIC WORKSHOP AND SPECIALTY GUEST WORKSHOP ($25 VALUE)
Murals by
CELSO
OCOTE
J Muzacz
Saturday, October 24
⬥ 10am–1pm ~ Intro Mosaic Workshop
$75
⬥ 6–7pm ~ Mosaic Fest Artist Meet & Greet
FREE
Hang out at The Mosaic Workshop and meet the artists of Mosaic Fest! Come by the studio, grab a drink, check out what everyone is working on, and get to know the artists and fellow mosaic fans in our welcoming studio.
⬥ 7–10pm Fest Kickoff Party at 2324 Studios with Mural Supply Co.
FREE
Kick off Mosaic Fest with a big bash with our friends Mural Supply Co. at 2324 Studios. Go see our outdoor gallery of mosaic murals there and the site for one of our newest mosaic murals that will be created over the course of the fest.
📍2324 Studios, 2324 E Cesar Chavez St. Austin, TX 78702
Sunday, October 25
⬥ 10am–1pm ~ Intro Mosaic Workshop
$75
⬥ 11am–12pm ~ Casa Neverlandia Tour with James Talbot (Offsite)
$15 CASH AT THE DOOR
Explore Casa Neverlandia, Mosaic Fest Featured Artist James Talbot’s one-of-a-kind home. RSVP now and pay the $15 fee in cash at the door.
📍Casa Neverlandia, 305 W Milton St, Austin, TX 78704
⬥ 4–6pm ~ Demo: Wet Saw with Jacob Gardinier
FREE
Demo to help artists think outside the box to achieve interesting shapes and textures in their mosaics, led by specialty tile artisan installer and mosaic artist Jacob Gardinier.
⬥ 6:30–8pm ~ Presentation: “The Job Site Artist” by Jacob Gardinier
FREE
How 20+ years of experience as an installer of luxury tile led Gardinier to become a mosaic artist.
Monday, October 26
⬥ 10am–12pm ~ Demo: Bring Your Mosaics into the 3rd Dimension with Dianne Sonnenberg
FREE
Learn how to build lightweight, weather-resistant 3D substrates and high-relief elements using Pal Tiya Premium and complementary sculpting techniques, led by Dianne Sonnenberg.
⬥ 2–5pm ~ Charcuterie Workshop with Adriana Cerón
$75
Join architect Adriana Cerón for a hands-on exploration of the trencadís mosaic technique to create an 11" x 5" charcuterie board!
⬥ 5–7pm ~ Happy Hour at Houndstooth Coffee
FREE
📍Houndstooth Coffee, 2823 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd #101, Austin, TX 78702
⬥ 6–9pm ~ Intro Mosaic Workshop
$75
Tuesday, October 27
⬥ 10am–3pm ~ Sculptural Substrates & Bas-Relief Mosaic Workshop with Dianne Sonnenberg
$90
Bring your designs to life by creating custom, dimensional elements for your mosaic practice in this hands-on workshop using premium Pal Tiya.
⬥ 6:30–8pm ~ Presentation: “Parque Quetzalcóatl and Beyond” by Adriana Cerón
FREE
Learn about Adriana Cerón, a young Mexican architect who works alongside Javier Senosiain and experience firsthand the philosophy of organic architecture and “return to the origin.”
Wednesday, October 28
⬥ 10am–1pm ~ Tattoo Mosaic Workshop with Sheldon Stehman
$75
Turn classic flash tattoo imagery into bold, colorful mosaics in this hands-on workshop led by Mosaic Fest Featured Artist Sheldon Stehman.
⬥ 4pm–6pm ~ Demo: Creating Mosaics with a Ring Saw with Josh Vassallo
FREE
⬥ 6:30pm–7:30pm ~ Presentation: “Public Art Fabrication” by Dixie Friend Gay
FREE
Learn Dixie Friend Gay’s process of transforming ambitious ideas into monumental public art and collaborating with fabrication teams.
⬥ 8–9pm ~ Presentation: ”Playing with Public Art” by James Talbot
FREE
Austin artist James Talbot shares an overview of his decades-long practice, from Casa Neverlandia to his playful public artworks.
Thursday, October 29
⬥ 9:30am–5pm ~ Koko Mosaico Workshop: Anatomy of a Mosaic Cloud
$450
Create your own mosaic on a custom 11" x 7" cloud-shaped substrate and explore andamento techniques guided by world-renowned mosaic artists Arianna Gallo and Anita Pilotti of Koko Mosaico.
⬥ 6:30–8pm ~ Presentation: “The Making of Flash Glass Mosaic” by Sheldon Stehman
FREE
Join Sheldon Stehman for a personal look at the story behind Flash Glass Mosaic, from teaching expressive art in a mental health and substance abuse setting to finding the mosaic medium.
Friday, October 30
⬥ 9:30am–5pm ~ Koko Mosaico Workshop: Anatomy of a Mosaic Cloud
$450
Create your own mosaic on a custom 11" x 7" cloud-shaped substrate and explore andamento techniques guided by world-renowned mosaic artists Arianna Gallo and Anita Pilotti of Koko Mosaico.
⬥ 6:30–8pm ~ Presentation: “The Mosaic School of Spilimbergo” by Vera Likk
FREE
This lecture will introduce the Scuola Mosaicisti del Friuli in Spilimbergo, one of the world’s most important institutions dedicated to the art and craft of mosaic, led by renowned artist Vera Likk.
Saturday, October 31
⬥ 11am–6pm ~ Come in Costume and get 50% off Drop-Ins!
$12–22 DROP-INS!
Wear your Halloween costume to the studio and get 50% off your Drop-In mosaic. Plus, you’ll be entered into a raffle for a free Intro Mosaic Workshop for two ($150 value!). That’s on top of the free grout kits with every mosaic. It’s a scary good deal!
Sunday, November 1
⬥ 11am ~ Grand Finale Mosaic Bike Tour with Sunday Cruise
FREE
Meet up at The Mosaic Workshop at 11am and kick off at 11:30am for a fun bike tour of some of Austin’s best mosaics!
Mosaic Fest 2025 Recap
Community Partners
This project is supported in part by an Elevate Grant of Austin Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment.
All levels welcome! | All materials provided + Free Grout Kit
Wednesday, October 28, 10am – 1pm
729 Airport Blvd. Austin, TX 78702
Turn classic flash tattoo imagery into bold, colorful mosaics in this hands-on workshop led by Mosaic Fest Featured Artist Sheldon Stehman. Create a flower design on a 6" substrate using shimmering glass to emulate the American traditional tattoo style. No mosaic experience is needed, making this a great introduction for beginners or a chance for experienced artists to try something outside their usual style.
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
Sheldon Stehman is a New Jersey-based mosaic artist. He draws inspiration from American traditional tattoo styles and uses them frequently in his art. Stehman teaches art and mosaics at a mental health and substance abuse center, helping others slow down and build confidence in themselves.
ABOUT MOSAIC FEST
Join us for Mosaic Fest this October 24–31, with world-class artists leading hands-on workshops, live demos, and artist talks at The Mosaic Workshop. All week long, every mosaic gets a FREE grout kit!