I started the Slavic Art Alliance because art has always been one of the most meaningful ways I connect with the world. Long before the organization existed, I was drawn to visual storytelling, traditional craftsmanship, and creative work that carries a sense of permanence. Among the many artistic forms I have encountered through travel, mosaics consistently stand out as one of the most compelling and enduring.
I am American, but my perspective has been shaped by extensive travel. I have visited all fifty U.S. states and traveled widely throughout Europe, the Middle East, the Caribbean, and beyond. My journeys have taken me to Ukraine, Russia, Georgia, Japan, Italy, Egypt, Scotland, Ireland, Mexico, Canada, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Honduras, and the United Arab Emirates. Each place offered its own artistic traditions and visual language, yet mosaics repeatedly drew my attention no matter where I went.
My experiences in Ukraine, Russia, and Georgia were especially influential. In these regions, mosaic art is not limited to museums or monumental landmarks. Some of the most striking mosaics appear in everyday settings. Bus stops, pedestrian underpasses, neighborhood buildings, and small public structures are often adorned with intricate and thoughtful mosaic designs. Even the simplest transit shelter can be transformed into something visually remarkable.
Seeing such care placed into ordinary spaces left a lasting impression on me. These mosaics elevate daily life. They demonstrate a belief that beauty should be accessible to everyone, not reserved for elite institutions. Standing at a rural bus stop or waiting along a roadside, surrounded by carefully composed patterns and imagery, I felt a deep respect for the artists who believed these places deserved artistic attention.
What makes these works even more remarkable is how often the artists remain unknown. Many mosaics were created collaboratively, signed rarely or not at all, and installed without any expectation of recognition. The focus was on the work itself and the community it served. Today, countless mosaics exist without documentation of who designed them, who placed each piece, or what stories the artists hoped to preserve.
My admiration for these works is rooted in craftsmanship, not ideology. Slavic mosaics display exceptional technical skill, from material selection to color balance and composition. The labor involved is immense. Each tile is cut, placed, and secured with care. Even decades later, many mosaics retain clarity, texture, and emotional resonance despite exposure to weather and time.
Over repeated visits, I began to notice something troubling. Many of these mosaics are disappearing. In several former Soviet bloc nations, redevelopment and urban renewal have accelerated the removal of older structures. As part of broader decommunization efforts, buildings associated with previous eras are often demolished or heavily altered. In the process, mosaic artworks integrated into these structures are destroyed without documentation, preservation, or public discussion.
What concerns me most is that the art itself is rarely considered separately from the structure it occupies. Bus stops, factories, housing blocks, and public facilities are replaced to make way for new development, often with no regard for the mosaic work embedded in their walls. These pieces vanish quietly, taking with them the skill, vision, and cultural memory they represent.
This loss is not abstract. Once a mosaic is destroyed, it cannot be recreated. The materials may be durable, but the knowledge, context, and hand of the artist are irreplaceable. Without photographs, records, or conservation efforts, entire bodies of work disappear from history.
That realization became a turning point for me.
The Slavic Art Alliance was created to focus on mosaics as art. Its mission centers on craftsmanship, materials, symbolism, and cultural value. The goal is not to promote political narratives or historical ideologies, but to recognize and preserve artistic achievement. These mosaics deserve to be understood within the broader story of global art, not dismissed or erased due to changing circumstances.
Mosaics are inherently communal. They are built piece by piece, often by teams of artisans, and designed for shared public spaces. This makes them especially suited to education, documentation, and community engagement. Through research, photography, writing, and outreach, the Slavic Art Alliance seeks to ensure these works are seen, studied, and remembered.
My travels in Italy and Egypt reinforced this vision. In those regions, mosaic traditions are carefully preserved and taught, regardless of the era in which they were created. Seeing that respect for craftsmanship strengthened my belief that Slavic mosaics deserve the same consideration.
The Slavic Art Alliance exists to create awareness. We aim to provide accessible information about mosaic techniques, regional styles, and preservation challenges. By doing so, we hope to encourage thoughtful conversations about how communities value and protect their artistic heritage.
At its core, this organization is driven by admiration. Admiration for artists who worked with patience and precision. Admiration for communities that welcomed art into everyday life. And admiration for a medium that continues to communicate beauty long after its creators are gone.
Starting the Slavic Art Alliance felt like a natural extension of my lifelong engagement with art and travel. It represents a commitment to honoring craftsmanship wherever it exists and ensuring that these remarkable mosaics are not lost to history without recognition.