BIOGRAPHY

Mosaics found me at the age of 15. Since then I have been drawn back to the medium again and again. After finishing a double degree in classical archaeology and photography at San Francisco State University (1995-2000), I started a small mosaic business with a friend. I wasn't ready at the time for a full blown business venture, so after a year I put the tiles down and signed up with the Peace Corps, to go to Ghana. However, just before leaving for Ghana I started teaching workshops and had two public commissions in my hometown of Coronado, CA.

 

Kirstin and Nana MensahI was in the Peace Corps from 2002 to 2004. I was fortunate to be able to continue mosaicing while in Ghana. I found the bright, bold, geometric patterns of West Africa to be beautiful. I began to incorporate them into my mosaics here and in Africa. For more on my time in Ghana, visit http://trotrotrading.com/

Since returning, I have been seriously pursuing mosaic as a career. I enjoy working in collaboration as well as alone. Other media I am conversant in include jewelry design using wire and beads, sculpture, photography, ceramics, and stained glass.

I love to travel. I spent a semester in Greece studying Classical Archaeology. I lived in Kunming, China for 2 months helping a friend design a line of jewelry made from recycled chopsticks. I have spent a total of 4 years in Ghana since fall of 2002. I have spent several months in Burkina Faso, learning the art, culture and music of West Africa. I also embarked on an epic cycling journey with my dearest love from Northern Ghana to Western Senegal in the spring of 2006.

I have been influenced by mosaics from Ancient Rome and Greece, Spain (Antonio Gaudi), Mexico, Orthodox Churches in Germany, and contemporary works such as Niki de Saint Phalle.