Intersections: An International Mosaic Arts and Education Symposium
From September 15 to 21, 2025, CMS will host the 1st International Mosaic Arts Symposium to celebrate their 20th anniversary, remaining the only art school of its kind outside of Europe. Intersections Symposium will serve as a round-table for shaping the future of Mosaic Arts education and engaging international artists. CMS Visiting Artists, who are both leaders and renowned experts in mosaic art and education, will conduct short workshops, lectures, presentations, and exhibitions in Chicago.
The Details:
Gallery Exhibitions
Opening and Closing Receptions
Tours showcasing public mosaics in Chicago
Workshops run by acclaimed visiting artists
Public discussions and lectures including
All of our workshops and activities below can be purchased A La Carte, or you can purchase in ONE BUNDLED PACKAGE
In this one-day workshop with Australian artist Pamela Irving, participants will learn to use paper collage techniques as a novel approach to art-making and mosaic. Pamela approaches collage sculpturally, using cardboard, objects, papers, old books, etc. Collage does not need to be flat; it can jump out from a surface. Collage is an excellent way to create new stories from discarded papers, tickets, travel mementos, books, and other forms of ephemera.
Students are encouraged to bring along their bits of inspiration…“you know, that stuff you’ve been hoarding in the junk drawer but didn’t want to throw out.” Bring it along, and Pamela will guide you in assembling it and giving it new form and life through an original art piece.
Please be sure to reference our cancellation policy for this event.
When we create a mosaic, we generally focus all our attention on the tesserae: shape, color, andamenti… but… mosaic is also made of the gap between the tesserae, the fuga/interstice! In this ½ day workshop, led by Italian artist Carolina Zanelli, the focus is on this aspect of mosaic: the consideration of fuga as the absence of tesserae and what can we discover in this approach. Students will work with pencils and colored paper, and they will share images and reflections, discussions, and new inspiration!
Please be sure to reference our cancellation policy for this event.
Workshops
Each one of us holds beautiful yet imperfect stories within us. Gathering, sorting, and assembling materials, images and pieces of memory allows us to discover new relationships and associations- an embodiment of the process of mosaic making. Through a series of writing, drawing and collage exercises, combining disparate words and images, students can access new ideas through novel approaches to personal storytelling through visual thinking. In this hands-on 3 hour studio workshop, breaking, deconstruction, and re-composition will allow for connections through association, meaning and memory. Students will use creative problem solving and especially play to access new possibilities in thinking and in studio practices. Participants will create workbook/journals as an intimate and free playspace to explore and reflect on memory, place and identity. This workshop is intended to help you find, rediscover and empower your creative voice.
Participants will be asked to bring in photocopies of images (family photos, places, etc); notebook and pens/drawing tools will be provided. Safe space guidelines will provide a groundwork for sharing and collaboration.
Please be sure to reference our cancellation policy for this event.
Is there a difference between a general mosaic artwork and a large-scale architectural mosaic? Should the location of a wall or floor mosaic influence it’s design? Can the design environment surrounding a mosaic installation help or hinder the design intentions of the artist? What approaches to design can we take to ensure a successful architectural mosaic?
These are just some of the questions raised in this half day workshop offered by renowned British artist Gary Drostle, who will discuss the relationship of the mosaic to it’s environments. By focusing on all aspects of the design phase, Gary critically discusses examples of public commission works that address fundamental questions around the concept of Site-Specific mosaics. This workshop is recommended for anyone considering proposing or executing a public art installation.
Please be sure to reference our cancellation policy for this event.
Toyoharu Kii has mastered fuga/interstices as an essential part of his specific mosaic language. In this one-day workshop, participants will explore new works using unique and irregularly cut tesserae and setting them into a white surface using the indirect method. This way of working will open up new possibilities and effects for expanding personal expression in studio practice.
Please be sure to reference our cancellation policy for this event.
In this exclusive one-day workshop, Italian scholar and historian Alessandro Lugari explores the interplay of lightness, darkness, and form. The workshop delves into how shapes and silhouettes evoke mental images, triggering recognition and association. As evidenced by early human pictorial representations—silhouettes depicting animals and people—form precedes intricate detail. Even the later development of mosaics drew inspiration from these kind of fundamental shapes.
In this sensory experimental workshop, participants will integrate sound and visual associations to construct mosaic shapes created with light and shadows. Following the rhythm of selected music, participants will create a mosaic using the direct method using stones, rocks, glass, and other elements.
Please be sure to reference our cancellation policy for this event.
Embark on a creative journey with renowned Scottish artist Dugald MacInnes in this immersive one-day workshop dedicated to the captivating the character of Scottish slate. This course offers an introduction to the unique qualities and artistic possibilities of this exquisite natural material. Inspired by rich textures and earthy hues, students will explore slate through a series of engaging short exercises, uncovering its remarkable potential for creating stunning mosaic compositions. The workshop will emphasize the crucial aspects of cutting and design and various methods for shaping and manipulating the slate to achieve your artistic vision. This workshop welcomes students of all skill levels, from absolute beginners to experienced mosaicists. This is a unique opportunity to explore the lush and earthy character of this exceptional material with MacInnes, who brings his passion for composition, geology and play to help to unlock your creative potential.
Please be sure to reference our cancellation policy for this event.
In this half-day workshop, artist Sue Giannotti will cover a key segment— Value—from her long-standing Design Fundamentals Workshop. Value is one of the key elements in design for any medium—and especially mosaics. This lively workshop is perfect for everyone—from students new to mosaics to alumni of the Design Fundamentals class—who’d like to experience this concept in new, fun exercises across different media.
Sue has been passionate about Value’s place in mosaic and has been teaching it for nearly 20 years, sharing its effects, magic and challenges with others. Join her for an energetic class, packed with fresh experiments that will help you understand and incorporate Value into your mosaics.
Please be sure to reference our cancellation policy for this event.
In this 2-day course, Maestro Verdiano Marzi will lead participants through the educational process of the composition of the mosaic. Beginning with a presentation, the Maestro will give a theoretical introduction of composition, followed by the hands-on portion of the workshop. Students will begin by dry-laying their components and the surrounding compositions, followed by Verdiano's individualized suggestions for improvements for the work. This workshop is an exclusive opportunity to understand the potential of mosaic and the process of integrating ideas with skills and materials. The final portion of the workshop will include a critical discussion of the works in progress lead by the Maestro.
Please be sure to reference our cancellation policy for this event.
Prerequisite: Hammer and Hardie
Lectures and Panels
Being an artist involves more than just studio work. An art practice is an integral part of one's identity — how you live, your relationships to people and materials, your obsessions and failures, and how you move and shape the world around you — all of these aspects become raw material for art. How does life experience inform a dedicated art practice? This international panel of selected mosaic artists shares their influences, challenges, and knowledge from decades of creating their art.
Presentation and Panel at Gallery of Contemporary Mosaics with Pamela Irving, Gary Drostle, Toyoharu Kii, Sue Giannotti, Karen Ami, Dugald MacInnes and Verdiano Marzi
Mosaic artists develop material relationships that become part of their unique creative process and expression. The choice of materials has a significant impact on the final visual and tactile experience of the finished artwork. Materiality plays a crucial role in creative expression, a powerful tool for artists to convey ideas, emotions, and meaning. Dugald Macinnes, Pamela Irving, and Carolina Zanelli discuss materiality within their diverse art practices and how those choices impact their poetic voices.
This presentation and panel will be held at Gallery of Contemporary Mosaics and include Dugald MacInnes, Pamela Irving and Carolina Zanelli
11am-12:30pm: The Mosaic of Alexander and Darius: An Hellenistic Work of Art
Since the discovery of the Alexander Mosaic, it has faced challenges related to its preservation and past restoration efforts, raising serious concerns for ongoing conservation. Alessandro Lugari discusses the importance of this artwork and presents the recent efforts to preserve the exquisite Hellenistic mosaic situated at the Archaeological Museum of Naples.
1-2:15pm: Rolf Achilles: Chicago Public Mosaics
2:30-4pm: CMS— 20 Years and Beyond: Reflections and Aspirations for Mosaic Education
Since 2005, The Chicago Mosaic School has established itself as an internationally recognized center for mosaic art education, serving practicing artists, students, and art enthusiasts. From its humble beginnings in a small Chicago art studio to its current status as a multi-level nonprofit art space, the school has become a prominent presence in the world of mosaic art, elevating the profile of this fine art form. Where do we go from here? Some of the leading voices in the field share insights on how and why students are drawn to this specific yet expansive art form. The panel will explore various perceptions of mosaic, how it is taught, and the challenges and successes encountered in the unique environment of the Chicago Mosaic School.
About the Artists:
Gary Drostle serves as president of the British Association of Modern Mosaics. His award-winning mosaics are seen in Britain and the U.S.
Pamela Irving’s works are in public and private collections in Museum Victoria, Art Bank and Ravenna Museum, as well as throughout Australia.
https://www.pamelairving.com.au/gallery/
Dugald MacInnes works principally with Scottish slate to produce mosaic artwork that reflects his passion for geology and archaeology. He has exhibited in his native Scotland and also in England, France, Italy, Japan, Greece, Germany, Serbia, Austria and the USA.
https://dugaldmacinnesart.com/home.html
Verdiano Marzi creates large-scale public mosaics and solo exhibitions and has shown his work at the Venice Biennale, in his hometown Ravenna and at the Fourth Moscow Biennale. He also taught at the Musée du Louvre and has brought his art to Corsica, Burgundy, Moscow and Tibet, India, where he introduced Tibetan children to mosaics.
Carolina Zanelli has participated in exhibitions and mosaic projects in Palestine, Holland, Oakland, South Africa, Kenya and France. as well as Chicago.
Karen Ami is the Founder & Creative Director of The Chicago Mosaic School the first and only Not-For-Profit school for Mosaic Arts Education outside of Europe. She teaches and lectures internationally and is both a curator and consultant for contemporary mosaic exhibitions. Ami recently completed an Arts Residency and exhibition at Somos Berlin, 2024 as part of her dissertation project. Ami exhibits her artwork internationally and is the only American awarded first prize in the Prix Picassiette International Mosaics Exhibition ( 2014). She was given the title of Gran Caviliare dell’ Ordine di San Martino, Italy for her contributions to Mosaics and Art Education. Her sculptures, mosaics and installations can be found in public and private collections around the world.https://karenami.com/about
Toyoharu Kii established Atelier ING and created more than 90 mural mosaics. His work has been exhibited in Tokyo, Chartres, Paray-le-Monial and Ravenna (where Byzantine mosaics are protected as an UNESCO World Heritage site). https://kiimosaic.penne.jp/index.htm
Alessandro Lugari currently is Special Superintendent for the Colosseum, the Meseo Nationale Romano and the greater Rome Archaeological Area. He also is a founding partner of the L’Associazione Italiana per lo Studio e la Conservazione del Mosaico.
https://www.gallerygocm.com/permanant-collection?lightbox=dataItem-iz5van8d1
Sue Giannotti is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis and is the founder of Mosaic Opus Studio, near St. Louis, Missouri, where she creates original mosaic artworks and architectural commissions. Originally trained in Italy, she uses millennia-tested tools, techniques and materials to create contemporary work. Her work has been exhibited and collected in the US and internationally, including France, Italy, Japan and Australia.
https://www.suegiannotti.com/about.html
Rolf Achilles curated the Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows and sits on the Boards of the Richard H. Driehaus Museum and the Glessner House Museum, among numerous contributions to Chicago and other cities. http://rolfachilles.com/id15.html
Renowned mosaic artists Verdiano Marzi and Toyohari Kii utilize the mosaic art form to enrich the meaning and visual expression of their work. The concept of mosaic as a language can refer to the arrangement and features of individual tesserae. Through their interaction with the pieces, like letters in words and sentences, creates a beautiful whole. This is an exclusive opportunity to experience Marzi and Kii presenting and discussing their works, themes, and the role tesserae plays within their practices.
This presentation will be held at Gallery of Contemporary Mosaics
Other Activities
This 2-hour walking tour showcases some of Chicago’s lesser-known public treasures that may be overlooked by passersby.
We will explore 8 sites within the Loop, Chicago’s downtown area, including notable architectural landmarks like The Chicago Cultural Center, The Marquette Building, and the Hotel Burnham.
Participants will meet at CMS at 10am and use public transit to reach downtown for the tour. Afterward, everyone can choose to stay in the Loop for lunch or visit the nearby Art Institute, which is close to the tour’s final stop.
The purchase of the Intersections Package gets you access to 7 full days of events:
Walking Tour, Welcome Reception, Artist Workshops, Panels, Lectures, Closing Reception!
For the visiting artist workshops, you will build your own class schedule for each day. Please respond to the info@chicagomosaicschool.org confirmation email with your chosen workshop(s) to secure your spots.
Important information: we have several half-day workshops as well as the full day workshops. Therefore you may pick two(2) half day workshops or one (1) full day. Please look closely at the schedule so it aligns with your availability.
Please be sure to reference our cancellation policy for this event.
Where to stay:
The Chicago Mosaic School has reserved a block of rooms at Hampton Inn Loyola Station!
This hotel is just one stop away at the Loyola station, and we also have several restaurants around the station and in the hotel building/within steps including Chipotle, Raising Cane’s, bopNgrill Korean, Khmai Cambodian, Salt burgers + fries, Blaze Pizza, Starbucks, Dunkin, Potbelly, Taco Bell, CVS, UPS, and more. Our location is a great one-stop for fly-ins with no downtown traffic.
Please use this link to book your room!
Intersections Symposium Cancellation and Refund Policy
Cancellations received between July 1st - July 30th, 2025: $95 Cancellation Fee. Remaining Registration fees to be refunded.
Cancellations received between August 1st - August 31st, 2025 : $150 Cancellation Fee. Remaining Registration fees to be refunded.
Cancellations received between September 1st - September 21st, 2025: $200 Cancellation Fee. 50% remaining registration fees to be held as credit to use at The Chicago Mosaic School for the nest one (1) year.
The Chicago Mosaic School accepts NO liability for any fees, penalties, or expenses related to prevention of attending the conference due emergencies beyond a party’s reasonable control make it illegal or impossible for such party to attend the event. This includes any airline cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a non-refundable ticket.
It is strongly recommended that all participants purchase Trip Cancellation, Emergency Medical Evacuation, Baggage, Accident, and Medical insurance from a reputable insurance company.