Hoping to spread the joyful art of mosaics throughout Sudan is artist and teacher Abou Bakr al-Sherif.

Despite being an ancient artform, mosaics haven’t been popular throughout Sudan. This lack of popularity makes sourcing glass tesserae difficult and expensive, so instead Sherif uses what is available (usually ceramics) to create his artworks.

To ignite national interest in mosaics, he is decorating public spaces with portraits of public figures including former prime minister Sadiq al-Mahdi. He has also been teaching the craft since 2010, inspiring his students and beckoning in a new wave of artists.

A new post by Hanna Simpson, Diary of a Tile Addict, April 2022.