Heart of Recycled Glass: Ellen Blakeley Studio Reuses Waste to Create Mosaic Art

Best In Show, Mosaic Art NOW, “Meredith” by Ellen Blakeley
(shattered safety glass and various surface treatments on Live Oak tree bark)

Ellen Blakeley is the creator of stunning handmade recycled glass mosaic tiles. Blakeley’s mosaic artistry, expressed in both her decorative tiles and fine arts projects, was recently recognized with the Best in Show prize in the international Mosaic Art Now competition juried by Dr. Scott Shields of the Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, CA.

Blossom, Core Collection

Her Santa Rosa, CA studio is committed to sustainability and utilizes glass recycled from the waste of commercial glass companies in Northern California. The broken glass is then treated in a mosaic tile process using only low VOC pigments, sanded water based grout, and a two-part epoxy resin.

Spring Leaf, Organic, Spotlight Collection

Blakeley’s mosaic tiles evoke the light, color, and texture of the earth’s varied elements and geographies. Here is a glance at how her mesmerizing designs traverse the realms of precious metals, plants, natural landscapes, luminous crystals and skies, and even the glint of a wet city street at night.

New Yorker, Core Collection

art, Home, mosaic glass, recycled

Alicia Lubowski-Jahn holds a PhD in art history from the Institute of Fine Arts, New York University. She has worked for various museums, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art and The Frick Collection.