Night
The Reveal
“I use my art to celebrate what’s right in the world.” After a professional career, I now cherish every moment I spend creating. My work is driven by a deep passion for vibrant colors, bold texture, and a touch of orderly chaos, brought to life through the art of assemblage. By uniting fragments into cohesive, dimensional compositions, I explore the beauty of transforming the ordinary into something extraordinary.
Inspired by people and nature, my pieces radiate optimism and humor, inviting viewers to uncover whimsical twists and playful characters within each mosaic. I start with a representational idea and move toward abstractions, striving to create movement and asymmetrical balance. My creative process blends traditional techniques with experimental approaches: I hand-cut and arrange glass, ceramic, stone, and mirror, craft original sculptural forms, and thoughtfully repurpose found objects. This puzzle-like method of assemblage is both meticulous and deeply rewarding.
This labor-intensive journey is immensely fulfilling. Known for my carved polystyrene sculptures, which I reinforce with fiberglass and concrete before adorning them with thousands of tesserae, each project is a tribute to detailed craftsmanship and ever-present experimentation. My goal is to disseminate joy and wonder through my art, creating pieces that prompt smiles and reflective moments.
I warmly invite you to explore closely, discover the subtle details and hidden surprises, and share in the joy and serenity I find in crafting these mosaics.
Jane Pettit, a renowned artist celebrated for her vibrant mixed-media mosaics and sculptural assemblages, makes her art in the picturesque town of Myersville, Maryland.
Formally trained in classical and contemporary mosaic techniques in Italy, Jane continues to evolve her distinctive style by fusing traditional craft with three-dimensional assemblage. Her playful yet sophisticated works—marked by a joyful palette, layered textures, and a sense of narrative—reveal the complexity of life and reflect a unique talent for bringing disparate elements together into cohesive, expressive forms.
In her 200-year-old barn studio along Catoctin Creek, Jane transforms glass, ceramic, stone, and recycled materials into exciting works of art. that include 2-dimensional works and large-scale outdoor installations. This magical space offers a glimpse into a world where art and joy merge. Her assemblage-based approach not only defines her aesthetic but also reimagines how materials—and stories—can be connected through art.
Due in part to the reflective quality of many of Jane’s materials, light and time of day continually alter what the viewer sees—adding an intriguing dynamism to her work. This ever-changing interaction between surface and setting invites viewers to return and experience her pieces anew.
Jane Pettit’s art is deeply influenced by both the ancient and the everyday, seamlessly integrating classical mosaic techniques that first ignited her passion with the vibrant world around her. People and nature serve as frequent muses, enriching her imagery with humor and whimsy. Whether crafting a fanciful bird or a portrait with a sly smile, Pettit celebrates the beauty of the world, using her distinctive love of intense color, bold texture, and ordered chaos. Although her art can address both the light and the dark side of human existence, her approach results in compositions that give a sense of mystery and depth while being both vibrant and harmonious, filled with emotion and uplifting energy.
Pettit’s technique, described as a fusion of mosaic, three-dimensional collage, and recycled assemblage, is built with an experimental mindset. Pettit lets her curiosity guide the creative process, encouraging unexpected combinations of objects to influence the outcome. Known for her unique sculptural forms, she often starts by carving polystyrene foam, then reinforces it with fiberglass and concrete, and meticulously applies thousands of tesserae creating a rich tapestry of texture and radiance. Pettit integrates luxurious materials like 24k gold Italian glass with more humble ones, such as pebbles from her creek or shards of a friend’s broken china, blending precious and personal touches into each mosaic. This resourceful use of found objects not only gives her work a distinctive character but also adds narrative depth.
The result of Pettit’s meticulous and imaginative technique is a body of work that bridges fine art and folk art traditions, showcasing a technically rigorous yet joyfully imaginative collection. Prime examples are her playful mosaic fish and mask sculptures, featuring glass, shells, ceramic fragments, and found figurines, which highlight her flair for mixed-media assemblage.
The result of Pettit’s imaginative technique is a body of work that bridges fine art and folk art traditions, showcasing a technically rigorous yet joyfully imaginative collection.
Jane Pettit is an accomplished mixed-media mosaic artist residing in Bethesda, Maryland. Renowned for her vibrant, inventive sculptures and an innovative approach to materials, Jane’s artistic journey began after extensive academic and professional pursuits. She holds a B.S. in Family and Child Development from Kansas State University (1972) and a Master of Social Work from the University of Wisconsin (1974). For three decades, Jane excelled in a career outside the art world, running her own company and building a diverse professional background.
In the early 2000s, Jane shifted her focus to the arts, driven by a lifelong passion for artistic expression. She deepened her understanding of mosaic art through significant training, including studies at the prestigious Scuola Mosaicisti del Friuli in Italy in 2012 and Koko Mosaico in Ravenna in 2011, among other workshops. These experiences honed her distinctive artistic voice, blending traditional techniques with a flair for modern innovation. She continues to study with artists whom she admires.
Jane Pettit has showcased her mosaic sculptures and mixed-media art in several notable solo exhibitions, often highlighting her innovative interplay of materials.
Key exhibitions include:
Select exhibitions include:
• 2022: District Arts, Frederick, MD
• 2021: District Arts, Frederick, MD
• 2020: District Arts, Frederick, MD
• 2021: Washington Sculptors Group, SE Community Center
• 2019: Washington Sculptors Group, Bladensburg Community Center
• 2018: Bright and Bold, Serendipity Labs, Bethesda, MD
• 2017: Mosaic: One Piece at a Time, Popcorn Gallery, Glen Echo Park, MD
• 2017: Nine Summer Sensations, Watergate Gallery, Washington, DC
• 2017: Elements of Surprise, Phoenix Gallery, New York, NY
• 2017: Sculpture Now 2017, McLean Project for the Arts, McLean, VA
• 2016: Believing is Seeing, Women’s Caucus for Art (WCADC), Artists & Makers Studios, Rockville, MD
• 2015: Chains to Wings, The Athenaeum, Alexandria, VA
• 2015: Animals, Rehoboth Art League, Rehoboth, DE
• 2013: Bound, National Women’s Caucus for Art Exhibition, Phoenix Gallery, New York, NY
• 2013: Women’s Caucus for Art Regional Exhibition, Glenview Mansion, Rockville, MD
• 2012: RE/Using Our RE/Sources, Sandy Spring Museum, Sandy Spring, MD
• 2012: Young at Art, Durant Arts Center, Alexandria, VA
• 2011: Exploring New Dimensions, Stephanie Ann Roper Gallery, Frostburg State University, MD
• 2010: From a Woman’s Perspective, Pepco Edison Place Gallery, Washington, DC
• 2010: Searching for Meaning, Blanche Ames Gallery, Frederick, MD – Third Prize
• 2005: 71st Members Fine Art Exhibition, Rehoboth Art League, Rehoboth Beach, DE – Juror’s Award for Excellence
Jane Pettit is dedicated to community engagement through her art. Projects include…
• Boonsboro Days Festival: Free Make-a-Mosaic booth (2023)
• Main Street Middletown’s “Color the Streets” Festival: Free Make-a-Mosaic booth (2022)
• Healing Hand (2016): Large-scale communal mosaic, Artomatic@Frederick
• Glass Mosaic Tree Project (2013): Artomatic@Frederick
• Art “Dots” Installations (2011–2012): Frederick and Crystal City events
• Habitat for Humanity ReStore Artist-in-Residence: Mosaic projects promoting recycling, including Earth Day 2010
• 2023: Public Art Commission, Main Street Middletown
• 2012: Gallery Opening of the Week, The Washington Post, for “Messages from Outsiderdom”
• 2012: Third Prize (Sculpture), 37th Annual Community Art Show, Women’s Club of Chevy Chase, MD
• 2011, 2009: Zenith Community Arts Foundation Calendar Feature
• 2009: Third Prize, Blanche Ames Gallery Juried Exhibition
• 2005: Juror’s Award for Excellence, Rehoboth Art League Annual Show
Jane’s work has been featured in:
• The Washington Post: Reviews by Mark Jenkins and Michael O’Sullivan
• Bannockburn Banner: Artist profile (2018) and N2 Publications (2014)
• Frederick News-Post: Coverage by Lauren LaRocca
• Elegant Living magazine: Feature by Lauren LaRocca and Graham Cullen
• Local Media: Middletown Gazette, Farm and Garden
• Washington Sculptors Group (WSG)
• Women’s Caucus for Art (WCA), National and DC chapters
• Society of American Mosaic Artists (SAMA)
• James Renwick Alliance (supports contemporary craft and decorative arts)
• Glen Echo Park Partnership, former Board of Directors
• Girls Gotta Run Foundation, artist participant
• Rehoboth Art League, exhibiting member
• Contemporary Mosaic Art (CMA), global online community