Gem Swell

Kelly Wearstler named her latest series "Gem" to express the ornamental, visual presence of and pay homage to the revered, age-old artistry required to create encaustic tiles. The choice of bringing an encaustic collection into the Ann Sacks fold never has been far from Wearstler's mind from the very beginning of this partnership. "I admire the beauty of encaustic tile-making, its textural layers of clay and organic variations of color and pattern," Wearstler said. "I have collected these tiles over the years and been inspired by their individuality and explore the historic technique and reinterpret it in an altogether modern way".