New Tyler, Texas Conference Center Boasts Mosaic Artwork at Entrance Facade

BOSTON, MA – May 2023 – The new W.T. Brookshire Conference Center in the Rose Complex in the City of Tyler, Texas features an exquisite artwork by local Tyler, Texas-based artist Brent Hale, tapped to create the art by the Rose Complex’s Master Plan designers, Fitzpatrick Architects. As part of the City’s Rose Complex Master Plan, the new state-of-the-art facility was set to feature local public art reflective of its community since its inception. The 50,230 square foot conference center boasts a four-panel mosaic, made in collaboration with Boston-based mosaic manufacturer, Artaic, that seamlessly blends Hale’s digital design with the mosaic medium. Inspired by the City of Tyler’s national landmark, the Rose Garden, “Alice in Wonderland” and flora from Hale’s wife’s own garden, the artwork captivates viewers with its whimsical and abstract vision, depicting fairies, flowers, and garden scenes in a burst of color and form.

Beyond its lighthearted appearance, the artwork holds a deeper meaning. Hale incorporates the city’s history into the mosaic, paying homage to the unique people and places that make Tyler special. As Hale notes, the city of Tyler is the rose capital of the world—the name of the center being a nod to this—and holds a large annual rose festival full of color and cheer which is heavily played by Hale’s design. Recognizable landmarks and symbols, such as the Tyler Rose, are featured, celebrating the city’s rich heritage and culture.

As an independent illustrator and graphic designer, this installation marks Hale’s debut in the mosaic medium. Hale started his artistic journey as a graphic designer, venturing into the world of advertising and design. His works reflect a strong sense of nostalgia of works from the illustrators of the past such as Mary Blair, J. C. Leyendecker, Norman Rockwell, and Haddon Sundblom, which are evident in his art. Initially, the design for the Rose Complex project was created using Hale’s digital illustrations, but during the design process with Artaic, the artwork transformed into a more abstract and impressionist style due to the pixel effect of the mosaic tiles, moving away from the intricate details and grooves that characterize Hale’s usual work. The opportunity to translate digital art into a mosaic format allowed Hale to consider the artwork’s impact from afar, resulting in a composition that maintains its impact both up close and from across the parking lot.

Hale collaborated with Artaic’s design team, and through the brand’s proprietary software, Tylist, they balanced the original detailed drawing with the final mosaic rendering. This approach ensured that the image remained cohesive without being too literal with lines. The resulting artwork appears as a seemingly random pattern up close, but from a distance, it creates a visually stunning and unified image. The tactile quality of mosaic draws in the viewer, as each colorful glass tile, arranged with Artaic’s robotic technology, contributes to the overall visual effect of the artwork, with each panel building upon the last to create a unified whole.

The artwork is a part of the City of Tyler’s Rose Complex Master Plan, spanning 60,000 square feet, which includes the Rose Garden Center, East Texas State Fairgrounds, the old Mayfair building, and the new W.T. Brookshire Conference Center, in place of the previous Harvey Hall. The new facility is named after W.T. Brookshire, who established Brookshire’s Grocery nearly a century ago in Downtown Tyler. The Convention Center’s facade proudly boasts Artaic’s mosaic mural, designed and manufactured to achieve Hale’s stunning artistic vision.

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ABOUT ARTAIC

Artaic specializes in the design, fabrication, and assembly of award-winning mosaics, employing cutting-edge robotic technology and innovative design tools. Artaic’s proprietary Tylist™ software enables its in-house design team to create custom mosaics from source imagery of all mediums—whether drawings, photographs, logos, or ideas and concepts. With a wide range of materials, including vitreous glass, sintered glass, stone, and glazed porcelain, Artaic’s team ensures each creation is distinct and tailored to the client’s vision. At the heart of Artaic’s philosophy is the elevation of the tile mosaic to an art form. Whether introducing a distinctive artistic element to a project or translating an artist’s work into a new medium, Artaic fosters a reevaluation of tile as a powerful element of design and art. Artaic also offers a catalog of preconceived design collections—such as Flourish, Splash!, Lasting Rugs, and Verge—that can be customized to fit projects of any scale and made unique by an expansive material and color palette. The Boston-based company’s tailored approach and unique manufacturing process increase design flexibility and artistic expression while decreasing lead time and cost, making it a go-to resource for architects, interior designers, and artists across the globe.