The Art of the Broken Dish – Pique Assiette Mosaics

This workshop will be held at Glen Echo Park, Glen Echo, MD. Sign-ups begin March 2026. Drop us an email to be notified when sign-ups officially begin. This is a very popular workshop and fills quickly. bonnie@maverickmosaics.com

Workshop: Sa, Su, Mon/ April 25, 26 & 27, 2026 . Sa, Su 10am-5pm, Mon, 10am-12pm

Up-cycle • Repurpose • Green Art

Mosaics in the Pique Assiette Tradition

Learn how to breathe new life into a chipped or damaged family heirloom by transforming it into a unique work of art. This timeless mosaic technique—known as pique assiette (French for “plate thief”)—celebrates creativity, sustainability, and resourcefulness. In this workshop, you’ll be guided through the entire process of creating mosaics from broken dishes.

You may choose to work abstractly or figuratively. All projects will be suitable for indoor display, and we’ll use the direct method of mosaic fabrication.

Workshop Goals

The primary goal is for you to learn the technique of pique assiette:

• Cutting and shaping dishes and ceramics
• Seeing creative potential in everyday objects
• Designing and assembling your mosaic composition

Depending on your project’s complexity, you may or may not complete it during workshop hours. You’ll leave with the knowledge—and materials—to finish your piece confidently at home.

What You’ll Learn

You’ll gain hands-on experience in:

• Developing a design and turning it into a workable mosaic “cartoon”
• Transferring your design to your substrate
• Cutting and nipping techniques
• Tool use and safe handling
• Design principles for balance and flow
• Mixing and applying thin-set and grout. Not all mosaics will be grouted; this will be determined case by case.

Materials & Supplies

A $85 supply fee (due at the start of class by cash, Venmo, or check) includes:

• Prepared substrate
• Thin-set adhesive
• Access to a wide variety of reclaimed dishes and crockery
• Use of studio tools as needed
• Grout and adhesive to take home (if needed to complete your project)

Each participant will complete—or begin—a mosaic of approximately one square foot in size. A supplemental supply and tool list will be emailed to all students 10 days before the workshop.

Project Planning

You’re welcome to bring an image or idea to work from, but please submit it for instructor input in advance.

• Beginners are encouraged to start with non-portrait subjects.
• Portraits are considered advanced projects and best kept simple, with clear lighting and front-facing subjects.
• Portraits of babies or children are not recommended due to their subtle facial structures.

Students may also bring extra dishes, especially colors or textures that resonate with their chosen design. Do not bring your most precious heirloom for your first mosaic project—practice makes perfect!

As you’ll see from our gallery of past student works, there are endless creative directions to explore. Some mosaic experience is helpful but not required—projects will be suggested based on your skill level.

Supply fee and our time frame allows for approximately 1 square foot of mosaic.

“Karen’s Rhino”, “My Mom, May” portraits shown in gallery above both took 30+ hours to complete.

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