Mosaic workshops by Artefact

25/04/2026

One of our favourite mosaics ever created by the Scuola Mosaicisti del Friuli in Spilimbergo, created in 2009.
These stunning three-dimensional columns never fail to take my breath away.
Designed and executed by Master Igor Marziali together with his students, they stand 230 cm tall and weigh 40 kg each, built using an extraordinary mix of materials: Venetian smalti, polychrome marbles, ceramics, brick, pebbles and river stones, all applied using the direct method. I had the chance to witness their creation firsthand, as I was studying at the school at the time.
This is what mosaic mastery looks like when technique, creativity and tradition come together. A living proof of what years of dedicated study at the world's finest mosaic school can produce.
We are proud to have trained at Spilimbergo, and even prouder to bring that knowledge and passion to our atelier here in Venice, just few steps from Saint Mark's Basilica.

04/04/2026

By chance, I took part in creating a bench during my studies at the Scuola Mosaicisti del Friuli. Four years later, Alessandra had the pleasure of contributing to the second bench (the blue one), and both have graced the school’s courtyard ever since. Fifteen years together, still holding up! ​​​​​​​

03/04/2026

Did you know that the only school in the world to award the title of Master Mosaicist is located in Spilimbergo, in Friuli?
That is where we trained. And today, we offer our students the opportunity to visit it in our company, alongside our courses.
A unique experience to immerse yourself in the heart of the mosaic tradition and understand where our passion comes from.
Interested? Send us a message!

03/04/2026

“Our workshop sits in the heart of Venice. Every spring morning, the light does the rest.“​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

25/03/2026

Did you know that smalto is the oldest and most precious glass used in mosaic art?
Born in the glassmaking tradition of Venice in the 13th century, smalto is produced by pouring molten glass mixed with natural pigments and mineral oxides onto flat slabs, creating irregular sheets of intense, luminous color. Each batch is unique and each color is irreproducible.
For centuries, it adorned the great Byzantine basilicas, the golden ceilings of St. Mark’s in Venice, and the masterpieces of the Renaissance. Today, only a handful of « fornaci » in Italy still produce it using traditional methods, keeping an ancestral craft alive through generations of dedicated glassmakers.
In our workshops, we work with smalto. Because some materials simply cannot be replaced.
venicemosaicclasses.com

25/03/2026

17/03/2026

Good news. A few spots are still available for our 2026 workshops.
Bad news. Not that many.
venicemosaicclasses.com

16/03/2026

Did you know that the marteline has spanned more than 2000 years of civilizations?
The Greeks invented it. The Romans spread it to the four corners of their Empire. The Byzantines elevated it in their sacred mosaics. The Venetians used it for the création of the biggest byzantine mosaic of the history, The Basilica San Man Marco and then, they exported their mosaics throughout all of Europe, and the rest of the world. We teach how to use it. And we you learn how to use it, you never turn back!
Welcome, Martelina.

13/03/2026

And here the result!

12/03/2026

And after a few, or rather many, hours of work, the mosaic is installed and the final result is finally revealed.
Oh, and did we mention that we teach this technique too?

www.venicemosaicclasses.com

11/03/2026

Yesterday, you discovered the preparation of a project made using the indirect method. Today, the focus is on the colour palettes. Did you know? We select all the colours before starting the piece. This has two advantages. First, we know exactly which shades to use. Second, we can calculate the quantity needed for each colour and avoid running out of material during the process. Not stupid, right?