Sharra Frank, Mosaic Artist
As a college art student in 2000, I was given an assignment to create a mosaic still-life with scraps of painted paper. The process of creating a whole from practically nothing sparked a passion that I was unaware of. Instantly obsessed with the process, I started to notice mosaics in different forms, everywhere. After a few phone calls to local suppliers, I found myself in a commercial tile shop, taking away a car load of free tile. I began to cover the surface of my coffee table, using just a hammer and Elmers glue. I soon craved material with more texture and sparkle and began to experiment with china, glass, shells, found objects and eventually rhinestones and beads. Each project became bigger and better. All the while, I was an art student at the University of Minnesota, focusing on drawing and ceramics. I studied mosaic art independently and taught myself through trial and error. By graduation in 2004, I was teaching mosaics, exhibiting in juried shows and selling my mosaic work to private collections.
It has been several years since I covered that coffee table with free scrap tile. Since then, I’ve grown into sculpting my own surfaces for my mosaic art, creating mirror frames, dimensional panels and free standing sculpture from scratch. Today, I specialize in public art mosaic installations, lead community mosaic murals, create private commissions and instruct advanced studio workshops. I launched the first ever online mosaic classes in 2012, through my website, sharrasmosaicsecrets.com. I travel and teach at other mosaic studios and schools around the US as well and through the Society of American Mosaic Artist’s annual conference, the American Mosaic Summit.
Artist Statement
I have great passion for creating elaborate mosaics and the surfaces on which they adorn. My inspiration comes from Moorish architecture, vintage jewels, Indian textiles, children’s literature and nature.
I am constantly developing new ideas and challenging existing ones. For example, I pushed my mirrors from two dimensional, flat shapes into three dimensional forms with baroque curls branching off. This sculpting technique has become another laborious process, in addition to the mosaic, but is also one of my favorite parts.
I collect mosaic materials from many different places such as local glass warehouses, online suppliers, estate sales, junkets and thrift stores. I often receive calls from people who are ready to let go of a coveted collection, sea shells or old jewelry, for example. I take pleasure in putting new life to these materials with a mysterious past.
I began creating my beloved sculpted mosaic mirrors by happenstance through an unexpected dream commission in 2006. In my first ever “real” studio, an old dentist office in the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District, I dived into hundreds of hours of experimentation. When I came up for air, I was greeted with a pivotal art piece along with an abundance of ah-ha moments and techniques that continue to fuel my work and teachings today. One of my recent mirrors, Gypsy Dreams, was specially created and documented, step-by-step for my latest online mosaic intensive course which shares the in-depth process with students worldwide.
My sculpted mosaic mirrors capture the viewer as their reflection is surrounded by the ornate beauty of hand cut mosaic tesserae, all lovingly collected and placed with focused intention. In result, the mosaic reaches beyond the surface, creating an emotional connection for each the artist and viewer, a dynamic rarely encountered with our everyday, mass produced objects. With this in mind, I like to think of my sculpted mirrors as invitations to the acceptance and celebration of our own unique and divine selves.
Artist Bio
Sharra Frank is an award winning mosaic artist who creates high-end mosaic artwork and installations for residential, commercial and public spaces.
Sharra’s mosaic work has been collected by Gerard Cafesjian of the Gerard Cafesjian Museum of Art in Armenia and has been featured in the Mosaic Arts International juried exhibition and SOFA NY. Sharra has led and created several public art installations in the Twin Cities, locations including the Neighborhood House, the Stepping Stone Theatre for Youth Development, the Goodwill Easterseals, Minneapolis and St. Paul Children’s Hospitals, Eastside Food Co-op in Northeast Minneapolis, Bryant Avenue Market in Southwest Minneapolis and more.
Publications of Sharra’s mosaic work include the Mpls St.Paul Magazine, Minneapolis Star Tribune, KARE 11, Metro Magazine, Rake Magazine, Marque Magazine, Mosaic Art Now, Alive Magazine and TPT’s MN Original.
Sharra’s studio is located in the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she also resides with her three children, husband and cat.
Artist Resume
EDUCATION
University of Minnesota B.A. in Studio Arts 2004
Katherine Nash Gallery Internship 2003-2005
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Society of American Mosaic Artists, American Mosaic Summit, Philadelphia, PA 2015
Society of American Mosaic Artists Conference, American Mosaic Summit, Houston, TX 2014
Society of American Mosaic Artists Conference, American Mosaic Summit, Tacoma, WA 2013
Society of American Mosaic Artists Conference,American Mosaic Summit, Lexington, KY 2012
Society of American Mosaic Artists Conference, American Mosaic Summit, Miami, FL 2008
Society of American Mosaic Artists Conference, American Mosaic Summit, Mesa, AZ 2007
Society of American Mosaic Artists Conference, American Mosaic Summit, Chicago, IL 2006
Society of American Mosaic Artists Conference, American Mosaic Summit, San Francisco, CA 2004
Woutrina De Raad Sculpture Workshop, Beldenville, WI 2007
Lori Green Sculpture workshop, St. Paul, MN. 2007
Steve Aimone Design! Workshop, Mesa, AZ 2007
Judy Onofrio, Informational Interview, Rochester, MN 2006
National Tile Conference, Tile of the North, Minneapolis, MN 2006
Stoney Stone Internet for Artists Workshop, Minneapolis, MN 2006
Sonia King Advanced Mosaic Art Workshop, St. Paul, MN 2005
Julie Richie Smalti Glass Workshop, St. Paul, MN 2005
Wendy Lane Marketing for Artists Workshop, St. Paul, MN 2005
Women’s Art Registry of Minnesota Mentor Program with mentor, Mimi Holmes, 2005- 2007
EXHIBITIONS AND GALLERIES
100 Moments in Mosaics, SAMA Boston, MA 2018
Art Resources, International Market Square, Minneapolis, MN 2018
SOFA Chicago, Society of American Mosaic Artists, Chicago, IL 2018
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Eden Prairie, MN 2017
Center for Visual Arts, Wausau, WI 2017
Contemporary Mosaic Art Summit, Invitational Exhibition, Thorndike Gallery, Ashland, OR 2015
Paramount Theatre and Visual Arts Center, St. Cloud, Minnesota, MN 2015
Mosaic Arts International, Houston, TX 2014
SOFA New York, NY 2012
American Craft Week, Northrup King Building Gallery, Minneapolis, MN 2010
Karen Gallery, MMG Group Show. Minneapolis, MN 2010.
American Craft Council Show, St. Paul, MN 2010
American Craft Council Show, St. Paul, MN 2009
Rome to Redwing, Mosaics in Minnesota, Works of the MMG, MN 2009
Necessary Ornamentation MMG, Metro State University, MN, 2008
Smoke and Mirrors Clay Squared, Minneapolis, MN 2007
Mosaic Arts International Mesa Art Center, Mesa, AZ 2007
Sharra Frank Mosaic Studio & Gallery, 2006-Present
Mosaica Gallery 360, Minneapolis, MN 2006
Tiles of the North Ripple River Gallery, Aitkin, MN 2006
Warm Mentor/Protegee Exhibition Minneapolis, MN 2006
Palette of the Heart National Council of Jewish Women, MN, 2005
Emotion Minnesota Mosaic Guild, St. Paul, MN 2005
Mirror Mirror Clay Squared, Minneapolis, MN 2005
Midwest Mosaic Invitational Chicago, IL, 2004
The Art of Embellishment Clay Squared, MN 2004
Minnesota State Fair Fine Arts Competition 2003
PUBLICATIONS
Minnesota Women’s Press 2016
Society of American Mosaic Artists, Groutline, Online Newsletter, Fall 2015
Metro Magazine, March 2012
iDream TV: Mosaic Magic at the Eastside Food Co-op, Aug 2011
Behind the Design {Sharra Frank}, Twincities Design Collective, Sept 2011
Wolf Chat; Wolf Means Business- Journey of Artist to Entrepreneur, June 2011
TPT MN Original, March 2011
Mpls St.Paul Magazine, Custom Made: Heart of Glass, Nov 2009
Designer Pages, 3Rings, Little Honey Makes Mosaic Magic, Sept 2009
L’etoile Magazine Blog, Art-A-Whirl Spotlight: Sharra Frank, May 2009
CasaSugar, Home Sweet Home. Crave Worthy: Chandelier Mosaic, Feb 2009
KARE@4, Made in Minnesota Gift Guide, Dec 2008
Marque Magazine, Nov 2008
Showcase Minnesota, KARE 11. Making Mosaics with Sharra Frank, Sept 2008
Rake Magazine. Queen of the Mosaic, Sharra Frank Shares Her Secrets, Sept 2008
Metro Magazine. Northrup King Building, Artist Feature, May 2008
Mosaic Art Now. International Mosaic Magazine, Jan 2008
Minneapolis Star Tribune. Bits and Pieces, June 2007
Metro Magazine. Better than Santa’s Workshop, Nov 2007
Alive Magazine. Sharra Frank, The Business of Art, Dec 2007
DesignSpongeonline.com. Twin City Guide, Nov 2007
PUBLIC ART AND ARTIST RESIDENCIES
Bryant Square Park, Minneapolis, MN 2015-2016
Richfield Middle School, Richfield, MN 2013
Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Park, Minneapolis, MN 2013
Lynblomsten Care Center, St. Paul, MN 2012
Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of MN, St.Paul, MN 2012
Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of MN, St.Paul, MN 2011
Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of MN, St.Paul, MN 2011
Bryant Avenue Market Mural, Minneapolis, MN 2011
COMPAS, ArtsWork, Eastside Food Co-Op, Minneapolis, MN 2011
Chanhassen Elementary School, School Entrance Mural, Chanhassen, MN 2011
Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of MN, Minneapolis, MN 2011
Oneida Nation, Wisconsin, National Endowment for the Arts Residency, Greenbay, WI 2010
Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of MN, Minneapolis, MN 2010
Blue Cross Foundation Mosaic Art Award to Minnesota Green Communities, Minneapolis, MN 2009
COMPAS, ArtsWork, Neighborhood House, St. Paul, MN 2009
COMPAS, ArtsWork, St. Anne’s Retirement Community, Minneapolis, MN 2008
COMPAS, ArtsWork, Goodwill Easter Seals, St. Paul, MN 2008
L’Etoile du Nord French Immersion Elementary School, St. Paul, MN 2007
COMPAS, ArtsWork, SteppingStone Theatre, St. Paul, MN 2007
COMPAS, ArtsWork, Neighborhood House, Wellstone Center, St. Paul, MN 2006
MOSAIC INSTRUCTION
Institute of Mosaic Art, Berkley, CA 2015
Santa Barbara School of Mosaic Art, Santa Barbara, CA 2015
Society of American Mosaic Artists Conference, American Mosaic Summit, Houston, TX 2014
Society of American Mosaic Artists Conference, American Mosaic Summit, Tacoma, WA 2013
SharrasMosaicSecrets.com Online Mosaic Classes, 2012-present
COMPAS, Artful Aging, Lynblomsten Care Center, St. Paul, Minnesota 2012
Society of American Mosaic Artists Conference,American Mosaic Summit, Lexington, KY 2012
East Central Regional Library, Princeton, MN 2012
COMPAS Creative Classroom, Golden Lake Elementary, Circle Pines, MN 2012
Paramount Theatre Visual Arts Center, St. Cloud, MN 2011
Artful Workshop, Art Camp for Art Teachers, Paramount Theatre Visual Arts Center, St. Cloud, MN 2009
COMPAS, ArtsWork, St. Paul, MN, 2012
COMPAS, ArtsWork, St. Paul, MN, 2011
COMPAS, Arts in Healthcare, CHCMN, Minneapolis & St. Paul, MN 2010-Present
COMPAS, ArtsWork, St. Paul, MN 2009
COMPAS, ArtsWork, St. Paul, MN 2008
COMPAS, ArtsWork, St. Paul, MN 2007
COMPAS, ArtsWork, St. Paul, MN 2006
COMPAS Artist Roster, St. Paul, MN 2006-present
L’Etoile du Nord French Immersion Elementary School, St. Paul, MN 2007
Wet Paint, Mosaic Demonstration, St. Paul, MN 2007
Sharra Frank Mosaic Studio & Gallery, Minneapolis, MN 2006-Present
Clay Squared to Infinity, Minneapolis, MN 2004-2007
Mosaic On A Stick, St. Paul, MN, 2004
Paper Source, Minneapolis, MN 2004
Southwest Minneapolis Community Ed. Minneapolis, MN 2004-06
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
Society of American Mosaic Artists
Minnesota Mosaic Guild
Northeast Minneapolis Artist Association
- Photo Credits to Howard Christopherson and Emily Davis