MOTAWI TILEWORKS — November 17 - January 16, 2011

The Design Gallery at Design Quest showcases handcrafted art tile by various artisans from Motawi Tileworks of Ann Arbor, MI. These distinctive tiles are known for their rich glazes and uniquely American designs, inspired by nature, art and architecture.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF MOTAWI
Nawal Motawi, founder of Motawi Tileworks, was first exposed to the tile of the Arts & Crafts Movement at Pewabic Pottery, which she visited during her first college ceramics class. “My professor had just completed a gigantic tile mural created with Pewabic Pottery, which he took us all to see,” says Nawal, “and I immediately began to fantasize about someday making tilework like that!” In 1992 she set out on her own, starting what soon became the Motawi Tileworks. Her brother Karim joined her as a business partner after graduating from college later that year.

There are a few particular potteries of the period that are the lodestars for the Motawis on their artistic journey. Pewabic, Rookwood, and Grueby in particular inspire their glaze surfaces and palette of colors. Louis Sullivan, Ernest Batchelder, and Frank Lloyd Wright among others inform the sculptural work. The Motawi style is a fusion of influences that makes for a style all their own.

The Tileworks has focused on two distinct decorative styles. The “Relief” tiles have a sculptural quality in low-relief and are colored with a single glaze. The “Polychrome” tiles have many colors separated by a tiny ridge of clay. A third type of tile made at Motawi is the hand dipped field tile (industry lingo for plain).

Motawi tile designs are a blend of art from the turn of the century and the Motawi’s design sensibility. The designs are brought to life by a tile-making process which is a journey itself. Improving their techniques of pressing, glazing, and mold-making is a bit of an obsession in the studio. The artful tile—the outcome of this shared obsession—is evidence that this duo and their artisan team is at the top of their craft.

Grapevine Trio (in Legacy Frame)

Material: Ceramic
Dimensions: 4 x 8" each; 18.25 x 13.25" Framed
The Grapevine Tile is adapted from a Yoshiko Yamamoto block print. Yoshiko comments that her goal "is to always fuse Japanese design sensibility with fine craftsmanship."

Black-Eyed Susan (in Legacy Frame)

Material: Ceramic
Dimensions: 22.5 x 37.5"

Fish Mural - Art Prize 2010

Material: Ceramic/Wood
Dimensions: 4 x 8"; 13.25 x 9.5" Framed
For the 2010 Art Prize entry, Nawal Motawi designed a hanmade tile mural depicting Koi fish leaping an dplaying in the swirlin gwater of a rushing river. The mural was on display at the GR Public Museum in the lacks Gallery.

Pine Landscape (in Legacy Frame)

Designer: Addison Le Boutillier (adaptation)
Material: Ceramic
Dimensions: 12 x 12"; 17.5 x 17.5" Framed
Originally adapted from Addison Le Boutillier's Pines tile for Grueby Faience Company.

Magnolia (in Legacy Frame)

Material: Ceramic
Dimensions: 6 x 6"; 11.5 x 11.5" Framed

May Basket (in Oak Park Frame)

Material: Ceramic/Wood
Designer: Frank Lloyd Wright (adaptation)
Dimensions: 8 x 8"; 11.5 x 11.5" Framed

Bell Flower	Checkerpot Rose	Little Journeys
Material: Ceramic - Indigo (prototype) or Green Oak Designer: Dard Hunter (adaptation) Dimensions: 4 x 8"

Motawi Tiles on Display

Motoawi Tileworks produces art tiles in a number of themes: Birds, Landscapes, Flowers, Boats, Bugs and More.

Alhambra (prototype) Materials: Red, White, Blue Ceramic Dimensions: 6 x 6"	Alhambra (prototype) Materials: Turquoise Ceramic Dimensions: 6 x 6"

Motawi Tiles On Display

Materials: Ceramic

Motawi Tileworks on display in the Design Quest Design Gallery