The future of mosaic as an applied art is at the heart of a two-volume study retracing the key elements of its history, materials, and contemporary artistic developments. This publication acknowledges mosaic’s individuality and its social value, on a par with other forms of art.

The ambiguity that has long surrounded this art lies in the distinction between the artist who designs the preparatory cartoon and the mosaicist who executes it. This ambiguity persisted until the second half of the 20th century, when the best students from established mosaic schools—presented in these volumes—began to acknowledge and challenge this divide and increasingly took on both roles as designers and executors of their works. However, the issue is more complex and in many ways mirrors what happens in architecture—an art form where the design and the execution are traditionally handled by different, increasingly specialized professionals. A painter creates their painting, a sculptor their sculpture, but an architect relies on others to bring their vision to life. The same can be said for mosaic today. This ongoing debate—often intense—within schools, studios, and among contemporary artists revolves around this very topic, which tends to overshadow the many other aspects involved in creating a mosaic. Therefore, now as in the past, it is important to reflect on the deeper complexities and meanings inherent in the art of mosaic throughout time.

Available in Italian only.