Ceramic Tile Projects with Kevin Willis

Ace Hotel Portland Lobby, Kevin Willis. 2021

The Library, Kevin Willis. 2016

Ceramic artist Kevin Willis contacted me in 2015 about a project he had recently started, a very large and unconventional site-specific ceramic installation. He needed someone to perform the installation of the piece as well as devise a method to install it that would be safe, long-lasting, and preserve his original vision. I traveled to Palm Springs in the spring of 2016 and worked one-on-one with Kevin to invent the order and procedures needed to safely and correctly assemble his piece. There was no map to the design so the assembly of the piece became a collaboration between the artist and myself.

Palm Springs California, 2016.

Assembly order and procedures planning
Surface preparation, setting and grout finish work.
Collaborating with the artist to ensure design integrity

Ceramic Tile Designs

In 2015 I began working with ceramic artist Kevin Willis designing tiles that he produced and used in select projects. Tile designs began with sketched outer geometry, and interior designs were created using a compass or straight edge. Tiles were then sculpted in a modelling clay and a silicone cast was then made. The silicone cast was shipped to Kevin in California where he used it to cast a new positive that was then made into a plaster mold for tile production.