Click on thumbnails below for detailed images and information
Steel, concrete, porcelain tile 2020
Arch - 4 x 4 x 14’
3 Rocks - dimensions vary
Conceived, designed, and fabricated in collaboration with sculptor Sun McColgin , Abundance marks the entrance to the recently renovated and beloved Eiler's Park, next to Deep Eddy Pool, in Austin, TX. The steel and concrete archway is composed of two independent abstract cairns that vertically ascend 14 ft, gently curving towards each other and skinned in my handmade “spirit lichen” porcelain tile. Positioned at its base are "rocks" also covered in spirit lichen tile that suggest the sculpture and its surroundings are inhabited with the playful spirits of those who have cherished this spot over time. The piece celebrates Eiler's Park vibrant, fun history.
This work was commissioned by the City of Austin Art in Public Places Program, in cooperation with Friends of Deep Eddy, the Deep Eddy neighborhood association, Design Workshop, and Austin Parks and Recreation.
Two abstract cairns create the archway, inviting visitors into the park (photo by Philip Rogers).
The largest of the three rocks rests near the arch, offering an intimate experience of the eyeball moss patterns on its surface. It is a pleasant place to sit while awaiting a friend.
This rock marks the second entrance to the park, located down a winding trail towards the river. Its presence visually connects the far ends of the park with the arch, and intrigues passersby to explore the lower levels of the park ,which include a picnic area and playground.
The smallest of the three rocks awaits discovery, like an Easter egg, near the playground, helping children make the connection between rocks as natural objects and the abstract rock forms in the larger sculpture.
Spirit Lichen - detail (Photo by Philip Rogers)
Spirit Lichen - detail (Photo by Philip Rogers)
Spirit Lichen - detail (Photo by Philip Rogers)
Eyeball Moss - detail (Photo by Philip Rogers)
Eyeball Moss - detail (Photo by Philip Rogers)
Visitors to the park! (Photo by Philip Rogers)
I make art to understand myself and to connect with the world.
I am storyteller. A good story engages you in familiar realms, then takes you somewhere new. It should be participatory, and accessible, and move people to feel.
I also listen to other people's stories. I love to weave our stories together. On a small scale, this is like taking a walk together, during which we realize how much our narratives have in common. On a large scale, we are creating powerful stories, together, that will become well-travelled maps that sustain our individual and collective myths. I aspire to make engaging public art that builds community and directs our energies towards a more joyful and connected world.
handmade porcelain tile 9 x 13.5’
I was commissioned by St Austin's Catholic Church to design, fabricate and install a mosaic for the exterior of their new chapel that would speak to the young people who frequent that area and spread the messages of "hope," "peace," and "all are welcome" to a diverse community. Through many conversations with the church's art committee, we evolved this design, which expresses these sentiments through the concept of "ruach" (divine breath), and suggests that hope and peace are active, creative states of being.
Commissioned by St Austin’s Catholic Church, located at W. 21rst and Guadalupe Streets, Austin, TX
glass and stone 4 x 100’ (dimensions vary)
Located at Brazos and 2nd Streets, Austin, TX
Commissioned by Art in Public Places
This mosaic uses abstracted, repeating patterns inspired by stories, poetry, myth, and petroglyph, to recall the current of herds, both human and animal, who populated the Brazos river's history.
Reflections on the Brazos (detail)
glass and stone
11 x 11’
Commissioned by Martin Fein Interests, Ltd
Located on East 11th Street, Austin, TX
The Robertson Hill Aptartments were built during the first wave of East 11th Street’s “revitalization” . They were built at the gateway to East Austin, at the edge of I-35, which historically separated White and Black residents. Unfortunately “revitalization” has also brought gentrification and displacement. This mural acknowledges everyone who has lived and toiled on this site throughout history, and that their aspirations – our futures, and our children’s futures – are intimately intertwined.
Let Every Man… (detail)
glass
9 x 15’ (wraps corner)
Commissioned by Investor’s Alliance
Located at the Spring Condominiums, W. 3rd and Bowie Streets, Austin, TX
This glass “waterfall” wraps the Spring’s lobby entry wall.
Falling Water (detail)
glass, steel
4 x 14’
Commissioned by the TX09 Biennial Temporary Art Exhibit
Located at Fiesta Gardens, Austin, TX 2009-2010
This mosaic tree explores art’s function as a tangible marker that describes an elusive experience, such as time. Passing through this arch could be the moment “day became night,” or “I fell in love.”
Door Not Door "Shady" Side
I create mosaics with large groups of non - professional artists. Making art with, rather than for, a community fosters a sense of ownership and intimacy with the artwork. It is also a fun way to make connections and build community. I am amazed by how easy it is for all different types of people, from all walks of life, to make art together – to focus our energies on what we are building together, rather than on what sets us apart.
handmade ceramic tile and glass 10 x 20’
Art teachers Nicole Garry, Pamela Matthews and I worked with all 600 Davis elementary students to create the ceramic tiles for this mosaic, which incorporated their school logo and Dolphin mascot into a magical underwater scene. Pre - k and Kindergartners made the shells and pebbles on the ocean floor, K-1 made textured kelp, 3rd graders made small sea creatures and fish, 4th graders collaborated in small groups to make larger creatures and fish, and the 5th graders made the big showstoppers (i.e. the 10' dolphin and the giant sea turtle) as whole class collaborations. I then assembled everyones tiles into the larger collage - style mosaic, filled in the glass background and installed it on the exterior of their building.
Click here to see my video offering close up views of the kid’s amazing tiles!
Click here to see the installation process!
Funded by the AustinISD Creative Learning Initiative program and the Davis PTA, located at Davis Elementary, Duval Rd, Austin, TX
handmade porcelain tile 7 x 7’
collaboratively designed and made by 100 members of the Rosewood community under the guidance of Ryah Christensen and Melissa Knight. Assembled by Ryah Christensen.
Click here to hear and see me talking more about this piece!
Located at the Rosewood Zaragosa Neighborhood Center, Austin, TX.
glass and ceramic
4 x 150’ (dimensions vary)
Created by 200 members of the Southern Oaks Neighborhood under the direction of Ryah Christensen, Lis Healey and Jen Maufrais
To view a video of the entire mural please click this link:
It's A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Located at Jones Rd and Buffalo Pass, Austin, TX
“It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (detail)” 2021
ceramic and glass tile 3 x 5'
One of Eight mosaics collaboratively created by 700 Austin Discovery School students. Designed and directed by Ryah Christensen.
ceramic and glass tile 5 x 6'
One of Eight mosaics collaboratively created by 700 Austin Discovery School students. Designed and directed by Aly Winningham and Ryah Christensen.
glass, ceramic
Prototype for a larger Community public art piece I’d like to make. During the East Austin Studio Tour I asked every visitor to make a bird tile for this piece. I then glazed, fired and assembled those tiles into the larger mosaic.
handmade and factory porcelain tile 4 x 8’
Christ Church of Austin asked me to repair a mosaic on their building that was originally designed by Rev Carlos Paredes, who started the Primera Iglesia Bautista on that site in the 1950s. While the old church needed extensive renovations, Church leaders wished to honor its rich history and importance to the Hispanic neighborhood. After I excavated the mosaic and saved as many original tiles as possible, I held several workshops with parishioners, during which we made replacement tiles, stamped and drawn with "fishes" and "wheat." Using these new tiles to complete the mosaic, we were able to both reimagine and restore Rev. Parede's original image with a renewed focus on community engagement and sharing.
Located at E. 2nd & Medina Streets, Austin, TX
“Fishes” and “Wheat” tiles made by the Christ Church Community
collaboration with Thora Gray and ADS students
handmade ceramic tile, painted rock, stone 8 x 20’
located at Austin Discovery School, FM 969, Austin, TX
Whether creating elaborate functional art, memorial portraits, shrines or personalized landscapes, I enjoy working with clients to create art that is both aesthetically pleasing and spiritually meaningful to them. The flexibility inherent to mosaic art is realized in my privately commissioned art that ranges from mosaic walls and ornate fireplaces, to backsplashes and more traditionally wall mounted art.
glass, handmade porcelain tile, shell, beads, bone 6 x 7’
Commissioned by Marion Designs. Located at Texas Children’s Hospital, Cedar Park, TX
glass 24 x 48"
commissioned by Norine and Howard Yukon
handmade porcelain tile 50 x 24 x 30”
Commissioned by Theresa Alvarez
porcelain, glass 28 x 50”
commissioned by Steve and Ginny Lappin
50,000 shells 6 x 10 x 1'
commissioned by Julie Thornton
porcelain, glass, river rock 6.5 x 9.5’
commissioned by Chris Christianson
glass and stone 34 x 60"
commissioned by Elizabeth Stolle
glass 48 x 48"
commissioned by Meredith Klein
oil on wood 48 x 48"
Commissioned by Sean Perry
In my studio practice, I invite all manner of characters and ideas into my canvases – neighbors, strangers, deities, ghosts. All contribute to the creation of images that tell engaging stories, that remind us of the ancient forces that have shaped our understanding of reality up to this point, and testify to the culture that we are in the process of building around us every day. Once shared, the story is a living thing that journeys towards its own truth.
porcelain 20 x 22”
porcelain 8 x 14”
porcelain 24 x 24”
porcelain 20 x 22”
oil on wood 30 x 60"
porcelain 14 x 17”
porcelain tile 9 x 12"
oil on wood 48 x 48"
Porcelain, found tile 8 x 12”
This series of mixed media work uses pieces of poems, stories, old journals, bones, found treasure, and collaborative art I have made with my children. Blending collage with many other crafts, I redefine "mosaic art" as: 1) a compilation of repetetive, prayerful acts 2) the order that arises from myriad chaotic moments 3) the understanding one can discover amidst confusion.
mixed media 44 x 54"
mixed media 6 x 9 x 2'
mixed media 16 x 30 x 8"
mixed media 74 x 49"
mixed media 4 x 4 x 2'
mixed media 24 x 24”
mixed media 12 x 24 x 8"
mixed media 25 x 49"
mixed media 44 x 54"
Paper Mache´ 16 x 24 x 8”
What began as an adventure in tile making has evolved into an exploration of all things ceramic. I love taking my slab leftovers and creating a SOMETHING… sometimes functional, other times whimsical. I love the sensuality and immediacy of clay.
Porcelain 8 x 12”
Porcelain 8 x 12”
Porcelain 8”
Porcelain (various sizes)
Porcelain 3 x 3” tile
Porcelain 3 x 5”
Porcelain 3 x 3” tile
porcelain 4 x 8”
Earthenware 5 x 5”
Earthenware 10 x 6”
My love of gardening and ceramics has spawned a fascination with Ollas, which are primitive irrigation vessels. Once buried in the ground, an olla efficiently waters surrounding plants, which is very important here in drought prone Central Texas. The tension of the dry soil pulls the water from the pot. When the soil is wet, the olla remains full. Over time, the plants’ roots grow around the olla’s base.
Once planted, the bottoms of these sculptures are rarely seen. And yet, I like to think their individual character converses with the plants and microbes around them.
8 x 30”
12 x 24”
10 x 30”
12 x 30” (unplanted)
12 x 30”
12 x 24”
planter head & olla base 12 x 36”
planter head & olla base 12 x 30”
12 x 24”
12 x 24”
12 x 30”
8 x 12”
Mixed Media 24 (diam) x 3”
$1500 (available)
glass 2.5 x 6’
Commissioned by Philip Montoya
glass, porcelain 23 x 29”
commissioned by Andrea Beckham
hand carved wooden frame by Kat Heitman
Mosaic portion of the Overton - Turner - Roberts Memorial Sculpture by John Christensen 2008).
commissioned by the City of Austin Art In Public Places Program, located at the Turner Roberts Recreation center and Overton Elementary School in Austin, TX
sculpture by John Christensen, mosaics by Ryah Christensen
Dorothy Roberts (detail)
glass 24 x 36”
commissioned by Sun McColgin
