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
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.
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.
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…
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.
3 EXPERIENCES
