ABOUT
AFS MOSAICS
Ariel and Brian Shoemaker have been designing custom mosaics for homeowners seeking that special something since 2002. Nationally recognized for their signature Gradient and Undulation styles, AFS Mosaics can be found in 15 states and 2 continents. The artists at AFS Mosaics collaborate with interior designers, architects, builders, as well as home-owners to deliver original ideas in home design. With the addition of the M.E.T. (Mosaic Evolution Tile) Collection, AFS Mosaics now brings the very best of ceramic cast field by request.
Inspired by unseen patterns in nature, Ariel’s custom mosaics are at once whimsical and vibrant, calming and muted.
AFS Mosaics is a small, woman-owned business with a client-centered approach to design and the creation of customized kitchen and bathroom backplashes and flooring, hanging wall art, and the M.E.T. Collection.
Ariel has been breaking glass since 2002 with the support of Brian as the company’s Operations Director. Brian, an artist and math teacher in his own right, delivers precision and balance to the boundless creative vision of Ariel’s mosaic expressions. This infusion of technical and engineering excellence dances effortlessly through the movement and color of each piece, making every custom installation truly unparalleled in quality and artistry.
Ariel and Brian have three children who have “grown up around glass.” The design studio sits right in the heart of their family home, signifying the love and care that inspires the work.
Ariel + Brian Shoemaker, owners + artists
“We started this business as a quality of life decision; a labor of love. Our love for the work continues to deepen with each project. The relationships and friendships we’ve built have been extraordinary, but the best moment is always the reaction from the clients when the final piece is installed.”
Process
Intention (and integrated intuition) is at the center of AFS Mosaics creative process. Each glass piece fits together with purpose, evoking a sometimes indescribable, yet immediately felt, sensation or mood. Ariel’s unique ability to listen to the client creates works of art imbued with meaning. Her natural gift to “see and get people” coupled with her innate sensibility for channelling stories, places and emotions into mosaics, piece-by-piece, has led to her growing success in the field.
AFS Mosaics is known for their two signature styles. The first, Undulation or flow is a juxtaposition of larger pieces of glass to build multi-colored, natural scenes. The second, Gradient explores patterns to create an almost pixelated effect and a vertical color to color progression. They often also create custom styles in service to the client’s vision that they lovingly call In The Likeness Of.
Ariel has a form of synesthesia where language changes to color and shape. She is interested in the way that nature works with our eyes, and how to make the emotional tangible.
Ariel and Brian design custom pieces for clients all over the world.