Brigitte Nicol-Messali

Artist’s bio

Brigitte Messali is a mosaic artist. Born in the south of France, she moved to the USA in 2001 and lived 8 years in Middle East countries. She studied all the mosaic technics from the ancestral way to the more modern technics for 3 years at the University Saint Joseph in Beirut.

She participated in various exhibitions: Artomatic in Virginia (USA) in June 2011, Holon and Pita Tikva (Israel) in 2014, Galleria Pall Mall in London March 2015 and a solo exhibition at Swann House in Washington DC in 2018.

She was a resident artist at Artists and Makers in North Bethesda for 4 years, where she offered classes and workshops. She also worked with children, to create a mural with the help of the preschoolers at the L’Enfant international Montessori school in Bethesda in 2022, 2023 and 2024 and for the cafeteria mural at the Lycée Rochambeau with the help of teenagers.

Her African wraps triptych represented France at the Art of the Francophonie exhibition at the Ven Hotel in Washington DC.

She recently moved to Myrtle Beach, she is already a member of the Waccamaw Arts and Crafts Guild, Gallery 320, and now Vision Arts Gallery. One of her mosaic artworks is part of the Myrtle Beach Museum Juried Show.

Artist’s statement

A major part of my work is translating famous paintings into mosaic form—artists like Klimt, Van Gogh, and various Eastern painters inspire me greatly. I also create my own designs, drawing inspiration from textiles, carpets, china, and other decorative patterns. By combining shapes and colors, I strive to create a world filled with richness—color, texture, scent, and even a sense of music.

I primarily work with glass tile tesserae, gold and gold-infused glass, mirrors, marble, stone, broken china, and Murano millefiori. My pieces can be used anywhere in your home, on walls or floors, to bring beauty and individuality into your space. Most importantly, each piece I create is truly unique.”