Motawi Tileworks

How a Craftsman Arched Fireplace gets made…

How a pug of clay becomes a Louis Sullivanesque Halsted relief tile. #rampress #motawitileworks #tile #motawi #annarbor #puremichigan

Watch as Motawi’s Kerry Coker builds a Pine Landscape mural, which will soon be on display at Artworks in Big Rapids, Michigan. #mural #tile #tileworks #motawi

Plein air painter Margaret Robinson visited the Tileworks today to paint the building!

🌕 BONEYARD DROP!
Just in: Yoshiko Yamamoto Raven tiles + moody field tile—perfect timing for the full Sturgeon Moon this weekend.

Slightly imperfect, seriously stunning.
Available now, in-person only.

📍 Motawi Tileworks, Ann Arbor, Mich.

#MotawiTileworks #BoneyardAlert #RavenTile #FullMoonVibes

🎨✨ Your art, our tile! Ever dreamed of turning your artwork into handcrafted #CustomTile? Here’s how:

➡️ Send us your art
➡️ Choose your style: relief (one hue) or hand-glazed Cuenca-style (multicolor)
➡️ We make 100+ tiles

Prices vary based on size and design.
Email us: commemoratives@motawi.com

Painting over the Pine Landscape mural… Watch this space to see what’s next.

Kiln unload #kilnunload #tile

Kiln upload: Yoshimo Yamamoto art tiles. #artsandcrafts #tile #tilemagic #kiln #ceramics

Art tiles make the perfect gifts for wedding parties or for the bride and groom: www.motawi.com/collections/...

At 12x12 inches, Loonscape by Charley Harper is tied with Pine Landscape for the largest tile ever made by Motawi Tileworks. It’s pictured here in an oak frame made by Dard Hunter III. #ceramictile #tile #artsandcrafts #charleyharper #motawitileworks #motawi #ceramic #art #arttile #cuenca

Check out this video of bulb glazing a Speedy Bonito, then head to our online store to order one of these limited-edition art tiles before they’re gone! www.motawi.com/collections/...

The results are in from our latest Glaze-a-Tile workshop! What color combination is your favorite?

Would you believe this bathroom design started with a thrift store shirt?

Nawal Motawi spotted a bold retro pattern at the Salvation Army years ago—and that little discovery sparked a tile design (and a bathroom!) unlike any other. 📖 Read the full story: www.projects.motawi.com/designstorie...

May the 4th be with you. #motawi

24 inch long replica of the millennium falcon constructed out of cardboard boxes. It is set up on display with a variety of Star Wars character action figures, who are 'decorating' it with lights to celebrate "Life Day".

24 inch long replica of the millennium falcon constructed out of cardboard boxes. It is set up on display with a variety of Star Wars character action figures, who are 'decorating' it with lights to celebrate "Life Day". This view is from the rear, showing the engines light up with a bluish glow.

24 inch long replica of the millennium falcon constructed out of cardboard boxes. It is set up on display with a variety of Star Wars character action figures, who are 'decorating' it with lights to celebrate "Life Day". This view is from the top showing some of the detail on the upper surfaces including battle damage and the radar dish. Chewbacca and the Wampa are hanging a banner along the side that reads "Happy Life Day" in both basic and aurebesh text.

24 inch long replica of the millennium falcon constructed out of cardboard boxes. It is set up on display with a variety of Star Wars character action figures, who are 'decorating' it with lights to celebrate "Life Day". This view is from the rear, showing off some additional details including the light up engines.

I should have shared these back on "Life Day"!

Cardboard "gingerbread house" Millennium Falcon.

#art #cardboardart #starwars #millenniumfalcon #lifeday #maytheforcebewithyou #gingerbreadhouse #greeblies

Songbirds in Grey Blue

Redbird Romance—Charley Harper’s minimalist depiction of a northern cardinal giving his mate a seed—is a love story in 6x6 ceramic tile form. As seen below, it’s surrounded by a hand-stained, -lacquered, and -waxed white oak frame made by Dard Hunter Studios, which is itself a craftsman work of art.

Just landed: our new 3x3 Warbler in Bone, part of the Charley Harper Collection! This tiny tile sings with midcentury charm and handcrafted detail. Fresh from the kiln and ready to perch in your space: www.motawi.com/collections/...
#MotawiTileworks #CharleyHarper #ArtTile #NewRelease

The longer I live, the more beautiful life becomes.” —Frank Lloyd Wright

On this day—April 9, 1959, we lost an icon. Today, we honor Wright’s genius with May Basket, inspired by one of his unpublished Liberty magazine covers from 1927. Immortalized in ceramic. 🌸

#FrankLloydWright #MotawiTileworks

Noticing What Inspires You: The Power of Beauty As I think back on how life ushered me into a career in architecture, I see that in large part what attracted me to residential design in particular was the realization that people really care about t...

Beauty is everywhere—you just have to notice it. In our latest blog, we explore how inspiration strikes and how the power of beauty shapes our work at Motawi. Take a moment to reflect on what inspires you! ✨

Read: www.motawi.com/blogs/the-ti...

#MotawiTileworks #DesignInspiration #ThePowerOfBeauty

🌻 A kitchen in full bloom! Alex and Pam Obriechts’ flower-adorned island + handcrafted Motawi tile make this space shine. See the full story: bit.ly/3XVn1I7 #MotawiTile #SunflowerKitchen #Handcrafted

On This Date: March 1, 1961 ✌️🌍

JFK signed the order creating the Peace Corps, launching a movement of service & goodwill. Motawi’s “Peace Nut” tile—now a collector’s piece—shares that message: PEACE. A timeless mission & timeless design. 💙

#OnThisDate #PeaceCorps #PeaceNut #MotawiTile #SpreadPeace

🐶✨ Happy National Small Dog Day!

Today, we celebrate pint-sized pups with giant personalities! From ancient times to today, small dogs have been beloved companions and loyal protectors. Check out our Medieval Dog tile—a relief design that brings antique charm to life! A perfect tile for k9 lovers.

February 26: Maha Shivaratri 🌙

Today, Hindus honor Lord Shiva, the deity of transformation. The crescent moon on Shiva’s head symbolizes time, wisdom & balance. Motawi’s Marsh Moon tile, an archived design, reflects this serene power.

May tonight you bring peace & renewal. 🕉️
#MahaShivaratri #Shiva

#OnThisDate, Feb 25, 1799, the U.S. passed the First Federal Timber Act, marking the first step toward conserving its forests. 🌿 To honor this environmental history milestone, our Pine Landscape mural seen here pays tribute to the timeless beauty of our forests.🌲🏞️
#ForestConservation #HandmadeTiles

📅 On This Date: Feb 24, 1849 🐝🐞

HBD to John Henry Comstock, the entomologist who shaped our understanding of insects! His work on dragonflies, beetles, and more still inspires today. 🦋

To celebrate, we’re featuring our insect-inspired tiles! What’s your fave? ⬇️

#OnThisDate #Entomology #InsectArt

On Feb 20, 1966, the world lost Dard Hunter, a master of the Arts & Crafts movement. His intricate floral motifs, bold geometry, and exquisite typography still inspire artisans today.

At Motawi, we celebrate his legacy by turning his timeless designs into art tiles:

www.motawi.com/blogs/the-ti...

During a recent power outage, a failed spark plug in our generator caused our kiln temperature to dip at a critical moment, leading to glaze crawl. While we ❤️ happy accidents, this wasn’t one. These tiles won’t make it to our shelves, but they illustrate the challenges of working with fire and clay!

Golden Magnolia tile, inspired by the work of Louis Comfort Tiffany

#OnThisDate: Louis Comfort Tiffany (Born Feb. 18, 1848)

Happy birthday to Louis C. Tiffany, the visionary behind stunning stained glass and Art Nouveau design. His work has inspired Motawi’s, seen in pieces like our old Magnolia tile (pictured).

#LouisComfortTiffany #MotawiTileworks #HandmadeTile