Creating the three murals for Novel Apartments has been both a labor of love and an ambitious project for our workshop! The murals tell the story of Washington, DC’s rich history and culture, combining artistry with sustainable design in ways that reflect the city’s vibrant spirit.

It’s also our first large-scale mosaic like this out of state! So naturally, there have been some interesting challenges to overcome. But this past month, we have been hard at work to transform the Novel Apartments into a beautiful mosaic destination!

Freeform Entrance Mosaic

The entrance mural, a 15-foot tribute to DC culture, is filled with custom ceramic tiles handcrafted by our team and ceramic artist Hope Hummingbird. These tiles feature iconic D.C. artists, iconography, and cultural symbols like Chuck Brown, Ben’s Chili Bowl, the Dupont Circle statues, quotes by Ian Mckaye of Dischord Records, and much more. Each tile was handcrafted in our studio, painstakingly painted or stamped with the guidance of Hope Hummingbird, who you may have had as an Intro Mosaic Workshop instructor! She then fired and glazed every tile to match the colors of the overall composition and create a rich texture.

Our co-founder J Muzacz just installed this piece in late October, and we’ve already had people remark on how meaningful this mosaic was to them. It is our goal and hope for every project to uplift local culture and showcase what makes each city unique and worth memorializing.

With over 100 pounds of repurposed materials—ceramic, stone, and glass—this piece balances intricate custom work with a layered and sustainable edge that embodies DC’s rich history and culture.

Water Wall

Beyond the entrance, our second mural—a 350-square-foot water wall in the courtyard—utilizes over 60,000 hand-placed, square glass tiles. We use grids to set them and ensure they’re pixel perfect! The design is a color flow image of the repurposed tiles from the exterior mural. We wanted to extend the story of sustainability throughout the complex, connecting each section visually and conceptually.

Pool Mosaic

Finally, our third piece, the pool mosaic, is designed to utilize more shimmering iridescent tiles that catch and reflect the water’s light. This dynamic effect invites residents to experience the mosaic in a way that feels lively and interactive, adding color and energy to the community space.

Bringing these murals to DC was a major feat, from late nights in the studio to carefully packing each piece into 20 hefty boxes for the journey north.

We can’t wait for these murals to become part of daily life at Novel Apartments, adding vibrant color and character to the heart of DC!