This week Joe Simpson visited Shoreditch Design Week to get a flavour of the new talent energising London’s creative craft scene, and to look at some of the amazing products and talent on display.  One artist to really catch tJoe’s eye was Nikki Edwards, an up-and-coming contemporary mosaicist who offers a fresh take on this most traditional of art forms. 

Edwards featured three original works.  These curvaceous, abstract, gestural forms were realised in a powerful yet soft palette of saturated pastel tones.  These mark somewhat of a departure from earlier pieces while retaining the bold use of colour, texture, and craftsmanship that defines Edward’s work.

When so much contemporary mosaic art is either overtly earnest and worthy, or hails from the Marbella bling school of design, Edward’s works are tactile, subtle, contemplative, joyful, and expressive.  They not only invite moments of quiet reflection, but also encourage viewers to experience the mosaics’ depth, movement, and subtle materiality.

London-based, Edwards explores the intersection of digital design and ancient craft. Working between digital conception and anti-digital making, she transforms ideas developed through contemporary design processes into tactile, hand-crafted mosaics.  Her pieces celebrate colour, texture, and visual storytelling. Rooted in branding and graphic design, her work challenges conventional perceptions of mosaic, combining precision with experimentation. 

Having studied at the University of Johannesburg, Edwards initially worked in advertising and design agencies across the world.  She is now channeling her creative energises into many different forms of art, including figurative and abstract painting, in her studio in Hackney Downs.  

“My work fundamentally revolves around the visual crafting of an idyllic universe through various iterations, employing diverse materials to evoke a sense of wonder,” explains Edwards.  “My constant aim is to draw the viewer into a blissful wonderland, inviting them to experience a realm of serenity and beauty.”

Earlier works, such as a series of mosaics inspired by African masks, reflect her 30 years living in South Africa.  Looking forward, she is open to a range of collaborative formats, including solo or group exhibitions, commissions, and related projects.

In her profile on Saatchiart.com she states: “I am first and foremost an artist. Looking back at my career as a graphic designer, I was feeling frustrated at the digital nature of my work and wanted to create art that is inherently the opposite of digital – physical art immortalised in glass and wood that cannot be easily deleted or stored on the cloud. I see this as a true collaboration of my skills – I create the work on my iPad and MacBook using various programmes, and then transfer that design using the ancient technique of mosaic art.”

“My vision for mosaic art is unapologetically contemporary and graphic, a departure from traditional norms. While embracing the boundless possibilities of the digital age, I hold a deep reverence for the artistic heritage of early works, drawing inspiration from the intricate beauty of Byzantine and traditional Roman mosaics.”

More at: https://www.nikkiedwardsstudio.co.uk