Every once in awhile a new tile designer comes across my design desk whose product totally wows me, and Sara Baldwin and her company New Ravenna Mosaics has done just that. {I was going to say her designs “floor me,” but the pun was just too painful for such spectacular product.}
These decadent and luxurious mosaics are all created by hand by a team of 120 artisans and designers who work out of the New Ravenna Mosaics studio located in Exmore, Virginia, all under the direction of Founder and Creative Director Sara Baldwin. Using a mix of the traditional Italian hand-cut opus tessallatum technique and the modern day water jet technique, these spectacular patterns range from the lyrical to the geometric and from the graphic to the organic.
If you find yourself thinking a true artist must be at the heart of the development of such a visual stunning line, you are most correct. It was while studying for her MFA in painting that Baldwin visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and fell in love with an ancient Roman mosaic pavement from the third century. Her fascination with the historic art of mosaics led Baldwin to learn for herself the centuries-old traditional mosaic techniques, and this led to the development of the spectacular line of New Ravenna Mosaics today.
From traditional to modern, from graphic to painterly and even whimsical, Sara Baldwin and her team of artisans and designers at New Ravenna Mosaic have won me over.
Perhaps seeing the possibilities and these innovative designs from New Ravenna Mosaics will expand your imagination and leave you dreaming a little bigger? I know it has for me. In fact, I have no doubt I’ll be dreaming in tile and pattern tonight as I drift off.
xo
s.
Wow. You are too kind! On behalf of all of us here at New Ravenna, thanks a million for your thoughtful and thorough blog post. We are beyond honored and humbled by your compliments!
P.S. A long time ago I had a high school art teacher named Sara Walker. Her name was Sara Gorman at the time, but she soon married and became Sara Walker. She was a young spitfire straight out of art school, and quickly brought much more sophisticated expectations to our country art classes. Unfortunately she's no longer with us, but her spirit lives on in each mosaic that is created here at New Ravenna because of her influence on my education. Bottom line, you've got a good name:-)
Sara, I am so thrilled to have found you and your incredible team of designers and makers! Your product line is truly breathtaking, sophisticated and truly inspiring. I hope we get to meet in person at some point soon!
xo
s.
P.S. I'm so honoured to share the name of your amazing art teacher. 🙂
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