Where Craft Meets Character: The Story of Motawi Tileworks

It all started in a garage.

In the early ’90s, Nawal Motawi was handcrafting ceramic tiles in her Ann Arbor garage and selling them at the local farmers market—long before “artisan” was a buzzword. Inspired by the curves of Art Nouveau and the geometry of Midcentury Modern, her designs struck a chord. People couldn’t get enough. In 1992, Motawi Tileworks was born.

Today, over 40 tile lovers carry on the tradition in our Ann Arbor studio, making tiles that are anything but ordinary. Each piece is crafted by hand with intention and artistry. Motawi’s colorful, dimensional tiles appear in gallery displays, kitchen backsplashes, fireplaces, bathrooms, and large-scale public installations across the country.

From original designs to licensed collections with Frank Lloyd Wright and Charley Harper, our tiles are sold in 300+ shops across North America.

As Nawal says, “It’s fun to be good.” We live that out daily through collaboration, artistry, and a culture that values people as much as product.

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Scholastic Art is a classroom magazine for middle and high school students. It is designed to inspire creative self-expression through the exploration of art history and contemporary art. This resources makes art relevant and accessible to students with teen-friendly texts that span movements, eras, and cultures.

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108|Contemporary is a nonprofit arts organization in the heart of Tulsa’s Arts District dedicated to advancing contemporary fine craft.

As Oklahoma’s only organization focused solely on contemporary craft, we serve artists and the public through thought-provoking exhibitions, educational programming, and community engagement.

Each year, we present a robust calendar of exhibitions that highlight both local and national artists working in fiber, ceramics, wood, metal, and other craft media.

Our programs include artist talks, hands-on workshops, and partnerships with schools and social service organizations to ensure the arts are accessible to all. Through our exhibitions and outreach, 108|Contemporary nurtures creative dialogue, supports artists’ careers, and connects Oklahomans to the power of craft.

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Scandinavia House: The Nordic Center in America is the leading center for Nordic culture in the United States, offering a wide range of programs that illuminate the culture and vitality of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. It is the home of the American-Scandinavian Foundation (ASF), an American non-profit organization offering fellowships, grants, intern/trainee sponsorship, publishing and memberships.

ASF is the organizer of “Nordic Echoes — Tradition in Contemporary Art,” the first major traveling exhibition of contemporary Nordic folk arts and cultural traditions from the Upper Midwest. On view at Scandinavia House in 2025, the exhibition will travel to the South Dakota Museum of Art in Brookings, SD (October 2025-January 2026), the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis, MN (February-June 2026), and Vesterheim in Decorah, IA (October 2026-January 2027), and other locations in 2027.

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The Asheville Art Museum was founded in 1948 by a group of artists to champion the creativity of Western North Carolina (WNC), bring art of national significance to the community, and encourage dialogue. Through generations of experienced and dedicated volunteer and professional leadership, the Museum continues to realize its mission: to engage, enlighten, and inspire individuals and enrich community through dynamic experiences in American art of the 20th and 21st centuries.

The Collection houses over 8,500 works in all media, including regionally and nationally significant paintings and drawings, prints, photography, sculpture, craft and decorative arts, and focal collections of works by members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Appalachian artists, Black Mountain College artists, traditional and studio craft, and regional architecture. The Museum has been particularly active in collecting historic and contemporary craft and studio glass with a focus on the Southeast and WNC.

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The Art Complex Museum is located in the historic town of Duxbury, Massachusetts, 33 miles south of Boston. It houses the impressive art collection of the Carl A. Weyerhaeuser family.

The collection includes over 8,000 art objects, including American and European prints, rare books, American paintings, Shaker furniture, Asian art, and additional treasures.

The museum offers a year-round schedule of exhibitions, featuring thematic shows from the permanent collection and shows by contemporary artists. Additional programming includes lectures, concerts, education programs, demonstrations and Japanese tea ceremonies, fulfilling the founders’ vision that their family’s many interests be shared with the community.

This unique venue offers visitors an inviting place for viewing and learning about art in an intimate and comfortable setting.

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The Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts offers an inspiring array of visual, performing arts, and educational experiences. The Museum is committed to creating an inclusive cultural space for the community to engage with diverse artistic perspectives through the AMFA Foundation’s 14,000 object permanent collection, compelling temporary exhibitions, lively theatre, and enriching courses.

The mission of the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts is to create an inclusive cultural space that inspires and builds community through the visual and performing arts. Serving the state of Arkansas and beyond, AMFA provides enriching experiences in the arts for all. Let your creativity flourish through instruction in diverse media, find inspiration through innovative programming, and experience art in new ways at Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts.

The Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts is home to the Windgate Art School, offering studio instruction in drawing, painting, ceramics, glass, metals, woodworking, and more. Instruction is available for students of all ages and skill levels, with daytime and evening classes offered quarterly, as well as short-term and specialty workshops.

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Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts is a nationally recognized center for craft education and creative exploration. Located in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains, Arrowmont offers a wide range of workshops, residencies, and gallery exhibitions to inspire creativity and foster community.

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Formerly known as the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage’s African American Craft Initiative, the renamed African African American Craft Alliance, brings craft artisans, makers and organizations together to encourage the vitality of African American craft, support efforts to document and present African American work, strengthen networks, and increase access to opportunities and resources.

The African American Craft Alliance began in 2020 as an Initiative of the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage to address the needs of the African American craft community through workshops, network building, documentation, and public programming. Beginning in 2024, the work has continued and expanded  as the African American Craft Alliance, supported by the Folk Education Network Alliance and working in partnership with a network of African American craft artists, regional and national craft organizations to support the needs and promote the visibility and vitality of African American craft and artists/craftpersons.

The AACA was  founded by textile artist scholar, Fulbright specialist, and Smithsonian curator alumnus, Dr. Diana Baird N’Diaye.

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