15 ideas for mosaics from unusual materials and amazing examples of their implementation (24 photos)

The first mentions of mosaics date back to 5000–4000 BC. Pebble mosaics of Crete prove that this art is very ancient.





As the technique of creating images from fragments attached to a base developed, the list of materials used also expanded. Today, wood, shells, glass, branches, beads, buttons, stones, ceramic shards, paper and more are used for this. And even prosaic things can be turned into, if not masterpieces of art, then quite interesting and worthy works.

1. Toast



Laura Hadland used 10,000 pieces to create a mosaic portrait of her mother-in-law.

2. Wine corks





Throwaway material. But Scott Gundersen not only puts them to work, he also makes a good profit on the results. It took 9217 bottle caps to create this girl's portrait.

3. Jars



To create such masterpieces, ordinary metal cans must be carefully cut and smoothed. And get a masterpiece in the form of a portrait of Frida Kahlo or someone else interesting.

4. Just bottle caps



But what a result! Less garbage is generated, and the balcony is beautiful and even a little insulated.

5. Coffee beans



This is already a classic of the genre. Although the material is not simple, it brought fame and a world record to the artist from Albania, Saimir Strati.



The work called "One world, one family, one coffee" required skill, perseverance and 140 kilograms of coffee. The result is a canvas of 25 square meters, symbolizing the world's continents and the friendship of the inhabitants of our planet.

6. Toy Cars





This mosaic is every kid's dream. But you don't have to be a kid to appreciate how cool this piece of art is. 4,400 cars make up this mosaic created by Kevin Champney.

7. Picks



Mosaicist Ed Chapman uses a variety of materials in his work. The highlight of the collection is a portrait of rock guitarist Jimi Hendrix.



The ideal material was Fender guitar picks of different colors. Which is logical, because Hendrix was a virtuoso in the use of this brand's instruments. More than 5,000 picks were needed to create a portrait measuring 120 by 100 centimeters.

8. Just Classic



Everything is perfect in this mosaic solution.

9. Pushpins



Eric Day loves office trifles. True, such works look aesthetically pleasing only from a distance, but they do not require additional fastenings.

10. Electronics



This mosaic of the ever-powerful Darth Vader made from recycled electronics by Argentine artist Elisa Naranja Metallica Insua will surely make you think twice before throwing away your old computer.

11. Polo Shirts



Fashion and art go hand in hand. This mosaic, made entirely from polo shirts, or more precisely, from 2,070 shirts, proves it. The source of inspiration was one of Vincent Van Gogh's self-portraits. It was exhibited in Tokyo in 2010.

12. Corks



Retiree Olga Kostina from the village of Kamarchaga in the Krasnoyarsk Territory turned her modest estate into a real gingerbread house using bottle caps and lids.



Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

13. Pencils



The most unusual mosaic was created in the home of Jason Mecier. This mosaic is made entirely of pencils and depicts a flower garden. The bright and cheerful wonderland of pencils is simply breathtaking. Who would have thought that they could be turned into such an amazing work of art?

14. Yummy



Mosaic artist Jason Mecier sweetened up the art by creating a portrait of actress and TV presenter Rosie O'Donnell out of chips, pretzels, cookies, and many other tasty treats. This artist is known for creating portraits of the rich and famous out of candy, food, beans, yarn, pills, and many other household items and trifles.

15. Beads



Mosaic of the Mexican Huichol tribe. Anthropologists even call them "a tribe of artists." And for good reason: amazing Huichol works involve inlaying a variety of objects with beads.



Each curl is a message to the spirit world.



Each bead is in its place and is very important.



And the Volkswagen Beetle, hand-decorated inside and out with two million (!) beads (with a total weight of about 90 kg), was even acquired by the Royal Museum of Fine Arts of Brussels.



And what unusual mosaic have you seen?