Meet Laurie A. Davis

Today we’d like to introduce you to Laurie A. Davis.

Hi Laurie A., we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to today?
My work is primarily stained glass and tile mosaic designs, influenced by a compilation of art training in watercolor and metal sculpture. I love blending tesserae tiles, hand-cut Glass, Italian smalti, micro-tiles, enameled copper, and additional textural materials to define each mosaic. Positioning smooth areas with textural tiles provide a more luxurious tactile experience and look.

My signature style features the sky, trees, flowers, and ocean-based nature scenes. I strive to create glass snapshots of life that elicit a positive memory or experience. Many of my pieces are functional and meant to be enjoyed every day, while my newer art is intended to be displayed in people’s homes. Acquiring one of my Tangled Tiles mosaic designs amplifies positive energy and happiness.

Art has been a part of my life since childhood. I took painting lessons at age nine, and living in Topeka, Kansas, the school art teachers taught classes twice a week and provided guest teachers who would spend 4-6 weeks in our school and offered special-project work for each grade level. I was selected as an Honors Art student at Clarksville High School and continued to broaden my art skills, mainly watercolor and sculpture, at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. The transparency of watercolor paints led me to learn the art of stained glass. Stained glass is an inherently challenging medium with different textures, thicknesses, temperature, levels of transparency, and its ability to project an interplay of light and shadow. It took me five years of working with glass to “know it well.” I transitioned from clear cathedral glass into opaque glass mosaic designs in 2010.

Nature inspires my work, and my art is designed to evoke an emotional response. I incorporate tesserae tiles, Italian smalti, micro-tiles, stained Glass, beads, enameled Glass on copper, and additional textural materials to define each mosaic. In addition, I strive to create glass snapshots of life that elicit smiles and make my and other people’s hearts happy. My first mosaic show was as an emerging maker at the Tennessee Craft in 2014. My mosaic designs have been featured at the Centennial Arts Gallery and several one-woman artist’s shows at the Brentwood Library and Green Hills Library in Nashville. In addition, my art was presented at the juried “Tennessee Craft Best of Tennessee” show in 2018. Currently, my piece, “Starry Starry Night Over The Cumberland is part of the gallery show at the new Nashville Soccer Stadium GEODIS in conjunction with the Nashville Arts and Business Council. This mosaic was also included in the 2022 “Best of Tennessee Craft exhibit at The Tennessee State Museum.

A Tangled Tiles: Mosaic Adventures in Middle Tennessee showcase will be featured this Summer 2022 in the Nashville International Airport via “Arts at the Airport” programming. The Nashville community has also enjoyed and purchased my art at juried exhibitions at the Centennial Arts Gallery and numerous local shows. Finally, many people find ideas when visiting my website, through word of mouth, and at high-trafficked holiday shows in Nashville and Birmingham.

Let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Every journey has its challenges. I had just started working with leaded stained glass when I became pregnant with my first child, so I needed to make a change by dropping lead came and learning the copper foil method of wrapping glass pieces! After working with glass for about five years, I thought it would be fun to cut large pieces of glass into little tiny pieces that take three times longer to cut and layout. Most people try to be more efficient, but I was intrigued by the opportunity to create multiple variations of texture and light. I have always loved Impressionist artists, and mosaics provide ample ways to bend and explore my visual interpretation of nature.

My first attempts were a bit pathetic, and to learn the basics of cutting, grinding, and placing tiles, I decided to create art for college sports fans. I chose to reinvent tray tables (a boring piece of wood found in many kitchen closets) to be an ultra-cool mosaic collectible. Working with the SEC, I invented “Tailgate Tables.” Laying tiles to hundreds of these unique and popular tables allowed me to perfect my skill set while providing the ultimate gift for college alumni. I also stretch my creative vision into much larger art pieces and 3-D work. My art is influenced by Tennessee’s hills, trees, and lakes.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I imagine life, nature, and things in numerous glass pieces. Although the overall structure is easy to see, examining how all the small glass and tile fragments interact is more fun. Adding words, unique beads, or found objects brings a sense of exploration and whimsy to my mosaic art. I encourage people to lean in and see how my art speaks to them. All of our actions bring us to where we are today, and I am so proud to be Right Where I Am!

What does success mean to you?
Success; that’s tricky! Success is when you find your voice in your profession, belief in yourself, feel confident in what you are doing, and can end each day with family or friends, sharing a meal and feeling grateful. I believe that definition evolves for each of us at different times of our lives.

Pricing:

• Tailgate Tables $135 and up
• Trays $125 – $500
• 3-D cut glass (3-5 layers of organic forms) $300 and up
• Large scale art $750-$3,000

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: http://www.tangled-tiles.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tangledtiles/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TangledTiles1/