Joey Merchant

Joey Merchant and Jaye Thomas have explored these questions and the darkness that inspires them in Company Loves Misery.
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Joey Merchant's passion for mosaic was sparked during her travels through Italy, Greece, Turkey, Israel and Egypt in the summer of 1996.Inspired by ancient Greek, Roman and Byzantine mosaics, cathedrals and mosques, Joey set aside her work in photography and turned her attention to mosaic in 2002.Her work ranges from large-scale custom installations to small accents for the home; from intricate replicas of ancient Roman mosaics to fun, spontaneous sculpture.

The mosaics are constructed from broken china, Italian vitreous glass tile, stained glass, ceramic, and found objects.Used and discarded items are destructed, and then used as fragments in the construction of new works of art.Joey finds tremendous satisfaction in making something whole from fragments of common everyday items.She works in the direct method; tesserae are adhered directly to the base, and the surface is then grouted.

Joey received a Bachelor of Science degree with concentrations in Psychology and Anthropology from Eastern Michigan University in 1997, and a Bachelor of Fine arts degree in 2000.Her work can be seen at art fairs and in galleries in the Detroit area and she conducts mosaic workshops in Rochester Hills, Michigan on a regular basis.In the summer of 2005 Joey and her collaborative partner Jaye Thomas participated in Dearborn, MI's Stray Cat Strut, a community wide public art display of fiberglass cat sculptures benefiting the Friends For the Dearborn Animal Shelter.She is an active member of the Society of American Mosaic Artists and the Girlee Detroit Collective.

Creating mosaics gives me the freedom to incorporate aspects of many artistic mediums such as sculpture, photography, woodworking, and collage into my work.I am drawn to the tactile quality of the materials- glass, marble, broken china, ceramics, stone and cement.I love the timelessness and durability of mosaic art.By making functional sculptural pieces, i.e. chairs, tables, mirrors, floors, and fireplaces, it allows people to connect with my work on an intimate level.

Joey Merchant Artist Statement

My art is strongly influenced by my love of travel.