

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mercedes Austin. They and their team shared their story with us below.
Twenty and some change years ago, Mercedes Austin, fell in love with tile after coming home to her college roommates’ art project of transforming their coffee table into a mosaic masterpiece. We could say the rest is history but that’s not exactly the case. Amidst her multiple jobs as a waitress, juggling student loans, Mercedes landed a job at a local tile company.
The catch was: she was paid in tile. Ignoring the critics who told her she’d fail, working hard, and following her dreams of becoming a self-sufficient mosaic artist became her second nature. Several years later, Mercedes became the master of her craft: making her tile and transforming it into beautiful mosaics.
Fast forward over two and a half decades later, Mercury Mosaics was born. What started as a humble one-person operation in Mercedes’ studio, transformed into a total tile empire with 30+ skilled artisans and creatives collaborating in three different operative spaces.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
With any small business, there come challenges of all shapes and sizes. There are good days and bad days. Finding exactly where and how we fit into the tile world was a long and challenging feat
If there’s anything we’ve learned from our mover and shaker, Mercedes, it’s to trust our instincts, learn from our mistakes and move forward. She says, “like anything you just have to do it, learn, and continue to bring your intentions to life. Then build upon the good and retire the things that didn’t work.”
We’ve been impressed with Mercury Mosaics, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Every Mercury Mosaics tile is hand-cut, hand-glazed, and fired to a beautiful sheen. Each piece is touched by at least nine pairs of human hands before we ship it to your door, locally and worldwide. We like to think that our ceramic tiles are hand-crafted to tell a story through their vibrant color, quality, and depth.
That story is then carried over into our client’s homes, storefronts, and workplaces by creating unforgettable, picturesque backdrops to their lives. We’re proud to say that we are female-founded, team-oriented, community-driven, and dedicated to changing the world one handmade tile at a time.
What does success mean to you?
In Mercury Mosaics’ case, I would say our success is defined by being a beacon for creatives to work and have a day job in the arts. It’s an environment where people can express their creativity, work as a team, and be a part of the bigger picture.
Contact Info:
- Website: mercurymosaics.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mercurymosaics/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MercuryMosaics
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/mercurymosaics
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/mercurymosaics
Image Credits
Spacecrafting Photography, Emily Pueringer, Rubinski Photography, Sage E Imagery Photography, Alyssa Lee Photography, Kate Roos Design, Andrea Photography, Rugg Photography, and Colin Miller