The goal of our I HeART New Jersey series is to introduce our readers to local NJ artists. These Garden State makers hone their craft while working with items like clay, metal, paint, film, and more. This month, we’re shining a spotlight on the state’s best mosaic artists.
It’s no small feat to turn individual bits of art into a larger design; and all three of these women have found inspiration from living in New Jersey.
Quick Click Guide: Click a mosaic artist to go straight to their profile.
| Robin Brownfield | Maude Lemaire | Anne Oshman |
More From Best of NJ
Robin Brownfield
Robin Brownfield moved to the Garden State from New York when she was a teenager in 1973. She now lives in Collingswood, “a community that puts a heavy emphasis on the arts and culture,” Robin says. The support she gets from the people in town helps motivate her passion for mosaic work.
Robin often incorporates local New Jersey wildlife, like the birds she sees in her yard, into her mosaics. Her interest in mosaics stems from attending a workshop on the topic in New Hampshire. Robin loves the idea of making art using recycled materials, like odd, leftover tiles.
Though choosing a favorite project isn’t easy, she is proud of her portrait of Breonna Taylor; which she was commissioned to create for Taylor’s mother. She also feels strongly about her Black Lives Matter series. You can click here to visit Robin’s Facebook page to view her work and keep up with her latest news.
Maude Lemaire
After moving to New Jersey from Canada nineteen years ago, Maude Lemaire found inspiration in the Ironbound section of Newark. In particular, her art reflects the plethora of cultures present in the area. Her journey into mosaic art first began in 2008.
Her friends were opening a bar called Hell’s Kitchen Lounge in Newark; and Maude created a mosaic of bright red and blue flames to cover the base of the bar area. She’s been installing mosaics in restaurants, bars, lounges, and recreational centers ever since.
For instance, Maude just finished The Whitney Houston; a larger-than-life glass mosaic mural honoring the late singer on William Street in Newark. The project is a message to the world that greatness, like that of Houston’s prolific career, can come from Newark. “The Whitney Houston was a big challenge, but the colors are mesmerizing,” Maude says about the piece. Click here to see more of Maude’s mosaic work.
Anne Oshman
Anne Oshman has been working in the field of mosaics for over three decades; honing her craft to become one of the state’s most renowned artists. Oshman lived in Montclair for 32 years, but now resides in Jersey City.
Oshman uses everyday inspirations to create custom pieces for clients. “The people that I have met in New Jersey have very specific ideas of what they would like. People from the shore like a ‘beachy’ feel; others are looking for a bespoke, meaningful backsplash,” Anne says. “I always feel honored to have been chosen to create a mosaic piece that someone can envision in their own home or office.”
You can visit one noteworthy project of Anne’s at Hoboken’s St. Francis Church. Over the span of eight months, Oshman created mosaics of St. Francis, the Blessed Mother and Jesus on the cross; which all surround the altar at the church. At the moment, she is enjoying work on a mosaic shelf idea which uses a variety of white ceramics. Click here to view Anne’s portfolio of work.
Click here for more stories from our I HeART New Jersey series.
Top (Hero) Photo: © Maude Lemaire
Other Photos (in Order) Provided by:
Robin Brownfield
Maude Lemaire
Anne Oshman
