We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Brenda Pokorny. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Brenda below.

Brenda, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

I have had the opportunity to create many mosaic garden benches commissioned in memory of loved ones. Recently, I delivered my Superhero garden bench to a family in Pittsburgh. It was in memory of their son, whom they said was a superhero. It is always an honor when someone trusts me with such a personal and meaningful project. And, it is often quite difficult when I deliver the piece, and meet the family. This time, the mother gave me a wonderful gift. Not anything material. She told me on seeing the bench in person, she felt a tiny bit of joy. Joy that she had not felt since her son’s passing. Heartbreaking and lovely at the same time. Her gift told me I’m doing what I was meant to do. I am so thankful.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a mosaic artist in Mooresville, North Carolina. I received a Bachelor of Fine Arts, with a concentration in textile design from Miami University, and began my career in textile design.
After 10 years managing my textile design business, I started playing around with mosaic, and knew I had found my calling.
Gardens and nature inspire me — especially formal gardens and hedge mazes. I have been obsessed with mazes my entire life, so have recently been exploring these in mosaic, borrowing from the hedge mazes and labyrinths I have visited. Another obsession is the geometry found in Persian designs and gardens. And, I continue to create small, botanical floral studies inspired by my own gardens using the centuries-old technique of cutting Italian smalti glass with a hammer and hardie. I call this technique “painting in glass”, and the results are textural and impressionistic. While I continue to create framed art, architectural installations and functional pieces such as garden benches and tables, I have launched a new endeavor, Get Lost Mazes, which brings all of this together. Immersive 360° interactive art experiences, based on my mosaic garden, maze and labyrinth artwork. Projected large-scale onto the floor, my animated labyrinths invite you to step inside their world. Scenes swirl and change around you while you wander the path. Meant to be enjoyed by all ages, and all abilities, I hope to stage these magical experiences in venues around the country.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

If you asked me twenty, ten, or even five years ago, I would have told you my goal in making mosaic artwork was to bring to life the ideas I had in my head. For no particular reason, just to create the art I wanted to create. Today, my answer is slightly less self-centered. I still have a need to bring to life the ideas that are in my head, but now, I realize my mosaics can benefit other people. I realize that my artwork can affect the mood of the viewer, and that has kind of become my mission. I want to leave colorful, happy, beautiful mosaic artwork everywhere! The thought that someone may be stuck in traffic after a lousy day at work when they catch sight of one of my mosaic pieces, and suddenly they feel a moment of “aah”, gives me everything I need from my art. I want to bring joy by filling public spaces with beauty.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

It is never too late. I feel like I am finally coming into my own as an artist – I am not young! After my first career in textile design, then my second career raising my sons, I really only embarked on my true career – creating art – a decade or so ago. It wasn’t until my sons were out of the house that I turned 100% of my attention to my art. I certainly would not change a thing. It was a gift being a stay-at-home mom, but, once that chapter ended, it was “me time”. Now, I am able to completely embrace all of the ideas that have been dancing in my brain for years, and follow them wherever they lead. Many times, I have had the seed of an idea in the back of my mind for months or even years, and then one night I will wake up because the seed has grown into a full-fledged concept. When this happens, I feel like my brain is flooded. Patterns, images, solutions flow. I’m guessing this happens to most people – whether they are creating art, or analyzing data. Now I finally get to make the most of it. I have a sense of urgency to produce as much as I possibly can. My point is, no matter your age, make the most of your creativity!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.brendapokornymosaics.com and https://www.getlostmazes.com
• Instagram: @bapokorny
• Facebook: Brenda Pokorny’s Beads & Pieces
• Linkedin: Brenda Pokorny Mosaics
• Youtube: @brendapokornymosaics9107

Image Credits

Mitchell Kearney Photography
Jamie Lucido Photography
Jeff Cason