A Study in Passion and Precision Brenda L. Montanile April 11 – May 16, 2026 A Study in Passion and Precision reflects the deep personal commitment I bring to my mosaic practice. These works hold hours of repetition, doubt, adjustment, and resolve, as well as moments of joy found throughout the creative process. They invite close examination and slow viewing, offering a space where intensity builds quietly, piece by piece. Wings appear frequently in my work as symbols of movement, comfort, protection, and transformation. They hold a sense of freedom and spirit within their form. This exhibition reflects my ongoing relationship with mosaic as a medium and my determination to study and honor this ancient art form within a contemporary context. The works are constructed, one piece, one tessera at a time. Each tessera, whether smalti, glass, stone, gold, slate, or ceramic, is cut, placed, adjusted, and fixed by hand, and every decision remains visible. For me, this is where precision enters the work. Precision is not control alone, but an act of care and discipline, shaped through attention, patience, and steady focus. Yet the work does not begin there. It begins with passion, an emotional pull toward an idea, an element, or a color that I feel compelled to follow, guided by curiosity and delight. I am drawn to the tension between these two forces. Passion initiates the work through devotion to both my inner voice and the language of mosaic itself. Precision sustains it. Together, for me, they have shaped a practice that requires commitment, presence, and time, allowing the work to emerge through deliberate creativity. Opening Reception: Saturday, April 11, 2026 1-4 PM Gallery Hours (Starting April 13) Monday – Friday 10AM-4PM About Brenda L. Montanile Brenda L. Montanile is a contemporary mosaic artist based in Puerto Rico. Her education includes study with leading masters in the field and is classically trained in traditional tools and techniques rooted in ancient mosaic practices. With nearly twenty years of study, her practice reflects a deep dedication to mosaic as both discipline and devotion. Montanile has exhibited her work in Puerto Rico and nationally and is a teaching artist on staff at The Chicago Mosaic School.
