Eloïse Baro

Mosaic maker | Verfeil, France

The modern mosaic maker

Eloïse creates mosaics by upcycling materials
Her mosaics can include waste material from other artisans
She created two large frescoes for a train station in Long Island, New York

Feeling a desire to create, Eloïse Baro began to learn the ancient art of mosaic making by herself. She then gained valuable knowledge at the prestigious Spilimbergo Mosaic School in Italy. Studying Roman, Byzantine and architectural mosaic techniques, she acquired expertise that allowed her to develop her own practice with a contemporary vision. Alongside her restoration work on heritage sites, Eloïse experiments by upcycling, using all kinds of discarded materials in her mosaics. One of her notable projects was the interior and exterior covering of a 1941 Ford in New York.

Interview

©Alain Le Coz

©Alain Le Coz

When did you first consider taking up this craft?: I practised for a year as a self-taught artisan, and then I felt the need to meet a master, so I studied with Enzo Tinarelli, a master of the school in Ravenna, Italy. The course lasted a week, it was quite intensive, and it was this immersion that really made me want to do this job.
How would you define your work?: It combines craftsmanship and artistic creativity. I stand out through my innovative practice of upcycling by repurposing discarded materials. My work, which is the result of centuries of know-how, is therefore in line with sustainable development and the circular economy.
What are your main sources of inspiration?: I would say that nature gives me almost all the inspiration I need; it is my starting point. There is no real philosophical conception in my work. It is the sensations that guide me, the search for aesthetics, harmony of shapes, materials, colours, textures…
How do you mix tradition and innovation in your work?: The tools are traditional, the technique and the materials are also mostly traditional, but the approach is resolutely contemporary. I like diversity, that is probably what pushed me towards this art, I need to bring in new materials and new techniques.

Eloïse Baro is a rising star: she began her career in 2017 and she started teaching in 2017