Location
Encinitas, California
United States
About the Artist
Laurie Mika is an artist, author and instructor. Over the last two and a half decades, Laurie‘s mixed media mosaic and assemblage work using polymer clay has evolved into an original and easily recognizable style. Her unique approach combines handmade polymer clay tiles with beads, jewelry pieces, charms, glass tile and found objects. Laurie has enjoyed teaching and sharing her techniques the past fifteen years at home and abroad.
Laurie’s work has been published in countless magazines and books. She is the author of “Mixed Media Mosaics”, published by North Light Books in 2007. Laurie has appeared on both HGTV's That's Clever and on DIY's Craft Lab. Recently, Laurie was featured on a new PBS series, Make It Artsy. Laurie’s work has been shown in galleries in San Diego, Laguna Beach and Los Angeles including La Luz de Jesus and the Hive Gallery. She is currently represented by Pop Gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She has also exhibited many times in the prestigious Mosaic Arts International juried exhibition winning Best in Show at Mesa Contemporary Arts in Arizona. Laurie's work hangs in private collections here and abroad.
Websites
https://www.etsy.com/shop/LaurieMika
2021 Exhibition Images

Life Resplendent
20 x 24"
Polymer clay, Apoxie Sculpt, napkins, tissue paper, jewelry pieces, beads, charms
Life Resplendent is part of a new body of work using a technique I have termed "clay appliqué". This is a process where I have created image transfers on polymer clay that are cut out and "sewn" onto the collaged background. The background was created using hand-stamped tissued paper and napkins. The deer and all of the appliquéd pieces are image transfers on polymer clay. The antlers were created using Apoxie sculpt that was embedded with beads, jewelry and charms to create a jewel-like look. The idea for this piece came about during the first year of the pandemic with the "pause" in human activity where nature rebounded.
Related Gallery
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Time is Precious
11 x 14"
Polymer Clay, resin pieces, jewels, beads, glass tesserae and found objects
Time is Precious is a wall piece that was inspired by an antique lithograph of a saint. I created an image transfer on polymer from a photo I shot of this piece. The central figure is adorned with a halo that was purchased in Mexico. In his hand is a vintage watch face that speaks to the theme of time passing and just how precious time is. The border tiles that surround this piece are polymer clay that have been stamped, painted and embedded with jewelry and hand-cast resin pieces. The palette of blues, reds and golds was inspired by Colonial and Spanish art.
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Saint Corona
4 x 9"
Polymer clay, resin, jewelry pieces, bezel and glass dome
Saint Corona is part of a series created during the last two years of the pandemic. This small gothic shrine was created using polymer clay and resin. The central figure is Saint Corona, believed by many to be the patron saint of pandemics. This figure was created using an image transfer that was then hand painted. A mask was added to her face to remember and reflect on these challenging times in our history. The side panels are polymer clay that was stamped with a quatrefoil design and then embedded with gold spacers and pearls reminiscent of medieval art.
Related Gallery
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