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

Michael, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I knew when I was in High School in rural Iowa. I was a Star Wars geek and was convinced I wanted to be a special effects animator and work for George Lucas at ILM. Somewhere along the way while studying animation I dipped my toe into the world of classical ballet and was launched into another direction for the next 30 years! As I was reaching the inevitable end of my ballet career, I knew the next “thing” had to be something creative; I knew no other way to be in the world…..

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 spent 30 years as a professional ballet dancer before leaving the stage and becoming a mosaicist. I am often asked how on earth I made such a seemingly unrelated transition. In fact, the two artforms have many aspects in common; discipline, repetition, a lot of practice, and commitment to becoming the best you can and being reliable. Dance is ephemeral, mosaic is lasting. But neither is easy, and both require a great deal of passion and patience.

As I was aproaching the end of my dancing career I began searching for what was going to be my next profession. I had always loved mosaics, but never really considered investigating it as a career. I eventually was led to Ravenna, Italy where I began training in the ancient and traditional Italian principles and methods of making mosaics. From then I was hooked and spent a great deal of time in the studio over the next decade refining my artform.

Many think mosaic is a dying artform but, in fact, it is currently enjoying a renaissance in the world. Mosaic is one of the most visually arresting, beautiful, and enduring art forms. Because of the labor-intensive and meticulous nature of most hand-made mosaic work; it is also an expensive medium. However, this investment results in legacy works that are durable and will last for several lifetimes

Mosaic is an enduring, beautiful choice for private and public commissions. Mosaics are versatile, durable, lightfast, weatherproof and can be worked into 3-dimensional sculptural works as well as applied to walls, floors, and exterior. Mosaics require little maintenance and can make a hugely memorable impression, which makes them an excellent option for works that last. Your mosaic can also be created as a panel that hangs on the wall as a painting would, so that if you move, you can take your mosaic investment with you.

Many aspects of my former professional dance and theatrical background present themselves in my mosaic works. They are often characterized by Light, Movement, Energetic Visual Dynamics, and a high level of Detail. Capturing and expressing these are what turn me on and motivate me the most. I seek to create a visceral experience. An energy, a feeling, a mood, or inspiration. “Meaning” is left to the individual viewing my work. I do not dictate “meaning”.
I have an affinity for antiquity, mythology, and the heroic, and my natural attractions lean toward figurative renderings. Whether figurative or abstract, my work is often about fusing those ancient techniques into contemporary themes and subject matters. I have a fascination with dramatic lighting. My best works have a sense of movement and drama to them.
At my root are ideas that are fantastical, full of wonder, nobility, and heroic. I find joy in the “gasp” or intake of air when someone views one of my works for the first time.
I work most often with natural stone, and Italian glass, primarily using ancient techniques developed in Italy before and during the Byzantine period. I find the qualities of these materials, combined with the classical methods, convey a sense of timeless strength, importance, and elevation to whatever subject is rendered in this meticulous discipline.

Art has been my life’s work. I approach it with great passion, devotion, and responsibility. It is almost irresistible for me to challenge myself to see how far I can go in what can be achieved in an image. My mosaic voice is always developing and I do not seek to confine myself to one style, but rather engage in whatever style of expression is calling and intriguing me at the moment. I take pride in being versatile and exploring new ideas that present themselves as well as mastering the traditional methods and styles that are at the foundation of my work. My work is owned by private collectors as well as private architectural installments.”

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Some of the rewards I have gotten from living my life as a working artist, are the benefits of living my life knowing that I am in charge of and responsible for my own decisions. I am a compulsive creator and am not happy unless I am actively creating and expressing what is inside me. The satisfaction I get from either creating my original work or creating works that inspire and give joy to a commissioning client is worth the sacrifices I have made. It is not an easy path, but I am an artist because I am compelled to be. I know I am using the gifts I have been blessed with and doing what I am here to do.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

In 2017 I was invited to participate in a residency taking place in Venice, Italy. It was a residency happening in conjunction with the 2017 Venice Biennale. The loose theme was to do with Venice’s historical position as a merchant cross-roads for different cultures from distant lands juxtaposed with its current position/approach to refugees seeking asylum. 
Originally I was approaching the work in response to my outrage at a deeply disturbing incident that had occurred not long before. An African refugee drown in a Venetian canal while several tourists on the vaporetti shouted racial slurs, took pictures with cellular phones, and even filmed the man drowning from a nearby location.
It was actually posted online!
Where was the humanity in this? I was shocked at the callousness and absence of anyone reaching out to save this person. This was someone floundering for their life and it was more important for people to take pictures of it??!!!!
I began to work on a composition that represented a more positive opposite; what if someone HAD reached out.
In the midst of my preparations, the work became much more personal: I lost my younger brother to suicide. My world on many levels was shattered and suspended. I was ready to abandon the work and not do the residency at all. Family convinced me that my brother would want me to continue. Although that time felt, and still feels like a fog, I did go through with it. The setting is still Venetian and has the some of the same original intent, it also represents the horrible vortex of emotions, pain, and desperation that enveloped me as I grieved my brother’s loss and my inability to save him.
I believe this dichotomy of light and dark lends itself to different impacts on different viewers, and it continues to be considered one of my most powerful works.

Contact Info:

• Website: mkmosaics.com
• Instagram: kruzline
• Linkedin: Michael J Kruzich
• Youtube: MKMosaics

Image Credits
Photos by Donald Felton