In his work, artist Jonathan Mandell brings together fundamental fine art concerns such as perspective, color composition and drawing, with the medium of mosaic.
Using glass shards, ceramic tile, semi-precious stones, minerals, mirror, and marbles, Mandell creates what he calls, “tactile paintings.” The wall-mounted panels and three-dimensional forms feature strong grout lines that act as drawing lines, bringing his imagery to life. These lines establish depth perspective and the volume of form in the composition.
“I have always sought out as many different ways as possible to approach mosaic,” Mandell writes on his website. “I sculpt the individual pieces in order to form a painterly image.”
The hand-blown glass shards are convex and concave pieces, allowing for a bas-relief effect to form across the mosaic surface.
In his latest body of work, in conjunction with the Summer season, Mandell is featuring beach scenes from the coast of Nantucket, Massachusetts.
“Through my choice of imagery, I infuse a narrative quality to my art. I am trying to consciously create art that I believe will uplift my audience. We as a people yearn for that which we can enjoy, and it is my aim to add to this collective whole.”
Shop all of Mandell’s work, here!
Additionally, Jonathan has served as an adjunct professor at Drexel University’s Westphal College of Media Arts where he taught his fine art approach to mosaic.
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