The Chicago Mosaic School

The Chicago Mosaic School and Gallery of Contemporary Mosaics will be closed this Friday in observance of Juneteenth.

We at CMS believe in the importance of recognizing Juneteenth as a way to continue to advocate for racial justice, inside and outside the classroom.

For more information on Juneteenth, read here: https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/what-juneteenth

If you've been following along in with our newsletter, you know that CMS has launched our annual summer appeal! This June, our goal is to raise $5,000 - and we need your help to do it. Your generous contributions are what make all of CMS' programming possible! ☀🌊🐠

We are halfway through our appeal, and we have raised 25% of our goal. Consider donating today to support arts education at CMS: https://chicagomosaicschool.org/donate

We are excited to announce The Chicago Mosaic School's Artist-in-Residence for Summer 2026: Raphael (Raphy) Karanikos from Naarm (Melbourne, Australia)! Raphy is a ceramic artist and mosaicist who combines ancient craft with contemporary storytelling. Using stone and clay, he records modern life while drawing deep inspiration from his own heritage. Through his research, he has developed a custom slip-casting method for ceramic tesserae and established one of the only specialised studios of its kind in Melbourne.

Raphy’s work has been exhibited at the National Gallery of Victoria’s Melbourne Design Week, Craft Victoria, and internationally in Mexico and Belgium. Recent milestones include a major commission for Little Creatures Brewery (2025) and a finalist spot in the Shelley Simpson Ceramic Art Prize. We look forward to working with Raphy and partnering with him to expand his practice at The Chicago Mosaic School.

Thank you so much to everyone who made Mosaic Fest 2026 a success! We love creating mosaics and connections with you! ☀

Share your favorite memories with us!

Thank you so much to our sponsors of Mosaic Fest 2026!

We couldn't have put on this event without you, and we are so grateful to have you as part of our Mosaic community!

Thanks to:
Wintrust Bank
Chirp Radio
The World Music Foundation
Beard & Belly
Salon Echo
Loyola University Chicago
Broadway Animal Hospital
Bark Bark Club
Revolution Brewing