The Art of the Broken Dish – Pique Assiette Mosaics

Workshop held at Glen Echo Park, MD. Workshop: Sa, Su, Mon/ August 23 – 25, 2025, Sa, Su 10am-4pm, Mon, 10am-12pm DROP BONNIE A NOTE FOR NOTIFICATION WHEN SIGN UPS BEGIN, ANTICIPATED SIGNUP DATE BEGINS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND.

Up-cycle. Repurpose, Green art.

Learn how to resurrect a chipped or damaged family heirloom by giving it a new life as a work of art. This timeless and popular art form is called pique assiette in the mosaic art world. Students are guided through the complete process of creating a broken dish and tile mosaics. Lecture and hands on. You may choose to work abstractly or figuratively. Our works are for interior display and we will be working in the direct method of mosaic fabrication. Some of our dishes/crockery may not be suitable for freeze/thaw.

Mosaics in the Pique Assiette Tradition. Pique assiette is French for “plate thief,” a person who is a scrounger or sponger. In art, term refers to the recycled or “scrounged” nature of the materials used in a form of mosaics: old or broken plates, ceramic figurines, costume jewelry, and assorted found objects.

As you can see by the gallery images of past student works there are many directions you can go with your creations.

You will learn countless hands on tricks for developing your design into a workable mosaic “cartoon”, transferring your design, nipping, cutting, tool use, overall good design methodology, and grouting.  A separate $85 supply fee will cover substrate, appropriate adhesive and a wide selection of cast-off dishes and crockery. If you do not get to grout your piece during workshop hours you’ll be sent home with enough materials, grout and adhesive to finish on you own.

Not all works are grouted, that will be a case by case analysis.

You are invited to provide an image to work from. However, Instructor must approve in advance! If you wish to do a portrait the best images to work from are simple, well lit, front on portraits. Babies and children are most difficult because their facial structure is not well developed and are not recommended.  Students are encouraged to bring supplemental dishes, especially colors and textures that speak to you and your subject matter.

Some mosaic experience helpful but not required. Projects suggested based on experience! DO NOT bring your most precious family heir loom if this your first piece.

Supply fee and our time frame allows for approximately 1 square foot of mosaic. Supply fee is due at start of class, cash, Venmo or check please.

A separate supplemental supply and tool list will be sent to students 10 days in advance.

Recommend you bring a brown bag lunch and beverage.

For directions and parking https://glenechopark.org/directions

300 MacArthur Blvd.  Arcade Bldg., Rms 202/203
Glen Echo, MD 20812

Check out this video for lots of insights to the technique of broken plate mosaics on Make it Mosaics YouTube Channel

Photo:  “My Mom, May” by Bonnie Fitzgerald, other gallery images by Jen Case, Victoria Papazian, Ted Coleman, Will Barnart., Cindy Roberts, Barbara Suplita