About Carla
Carla Schaeffer’s unique found art mosaic floral bouquets, ceramics, and jewelry
are a visual illustration of many of the things that make her happiest in life.
are a visual illustration of many of the things that make her happiest in life.
After being forced to leave my business career in 2002 when chronic arm pain and nerve injuries made it too painful for me to make it through the work day, I found that also losing my ability to be creative made coping with my injuries all the more emotionally difficult. So when in 2007 I suffered a debilitating brain injury as a complication of surgery, I knew I must find a way to bring creativity back into my life.
Rediscovering my love of the artistic process and finding a way to participate in it despite my limitations has brought me some much needed joy and has allowed me to, in a way, reclaim my life. I recently moved to West Cape May, New Jersey from Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, where I enjoyed creating my art work in a lovely studio space in a supportive art community at the Coleman Artist Studios. My new studio in West Cape May is almost ready, and I am looking forward to participating in the Artist Guild of the Cape Open Studio Tour in October 2021!
Rediscovering my love of the artistic process and finding a way to participate in it despite my limitations has brought me some much needed joy and has allowed me to, in a way, reclaim my life. I recently moved to West Cape May, New Jersey from Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, where I enjoyed creating my art work in a lovely studio space in a supportive art community at the Coleman Artist Studios. My new studio in West Cape May is almost ready, and I am looking forward to participating in the Artist Guild of the Cape Open Studio Tour in October 2021!
About My Art
I have always been an avid re-cycler/re-user/re-claimer, and after furnishing and filling my home with vintage finds, it is only natural that this would eventually carry over into my artwork. As a mosaic, ceramics, and jewelry artist, I enjoy piecing things together. I love to use bright colors and bold patterns in my work, which I feel allows me to break free of the restrictions imposed on me by my physical injuries. My love of gardening and anything floral or botanical is reflected in almost every piece I make, giving them a very lyrical and expressive feeling that brings me joy.
Found Object Mosaics
Found object originates from the French objet trouvé, describing an unusual type of art created from undisguised, but often modified, objects or products that have another purpose and are not normally considered art, often because they already have a non-art function.
In my found object mosaics, each piece I use in my work has a story and history that people can connect with. Individually, their flaws are evident, but together they support each other in a freshly created and newly sustainable piece of art. I never find all the pieces for a project at once; each one presents itself to me and must patiently wait until I’ve accumulated a number of complimentary pieces that will eventually come together to make a one of a kind bouquet. Sometimes it’s a very long wait! But, searching for just the right item to complete a piece is part of the fun for me. In my studio, I’m surrounded by all kinds of interesting things I’ve found to work with, and everywhere I look there is a new source of inspiration. I often have many projects sitting in wait for just the right pieces to fill out the bouquet and move to the next step in the process.
What I love most about found art mosaics is that I can fully integrate my love of art, antiques, collecting, and gardening into every piece I create! It’s like solving a puzzle and painting a picture all wrapped up into one very meditative process. I also appreciate the challenge of taking man-made objects and repurposing them to reflect the beauty we find all around us in nature.
More Details..
Recognitions & Awards
January 2020 "Help That You Can Bank On" Article, Philadelphia Inquirer 1/19/2020
https://www.inquirer.com/life/time-banks-phoenixville-neighbors-volunteer-exchanges-edgar-cahn-20200118.html
March 2015 Best In Show - "Black Tie Bouquet" Phoenix Village Art Center
March 2014 Best In Show - "Pretty In Pink" ArtFusion19464 - ReSourced Show
http://artfusion19464.org/exhibits/past-exhibits/resourced/
May 2012 Honorable Mention - "Copper Field Flowers" Phoenix Village Art Center
May 2012 Honorable Mention - "Tea Party" Art on the Hill - The Pottstown Art Show
May 2011 People's Choice Award - "Grampa's Fiddle" Phoenix Village Art Center
May 2011 Vote For Your Favorites At Phoenix Village Art Center - Article, Phoenixville Patch
https://patch.com/pennsylvania/phoenixville/vote-for-your-favorites-at-phoenix-village-art-center
Selected Exhibitions
Artist Guild of the Cape Studio Tour ~ Cape May County, NJ ~ October 2021
Arts & Soul Studio & Gallery - West Cape May, NJ ~ Resident Artist, Summer 2021
Harbor Gallery, Nature Center of Cape May ~ Cape May, NJ ~ May 2021
Malvern Retreat House Juried Art Show ~ Malvern, PA ~ February 2018, 2019, 2020
Artful Wishes ~ Make A Wish Foundation - Cherry Street Pier, Philadelphia PA ~ September 2019
Renew ~ A Recycled Art Show ~ ArtFusion19464, Pottstown, PA - November - January 2019
Art Gallery at Devon ~ Devon Horse Show, Devon, PA ~ May 2017
Chester County Studio Tour, Phoenixville, PA ~ May 2017
Reclaim - A Recycled Art Show - ArtFusion19464, Pottstown, PA - October/November 2016
Journeys: Artwork by Carla Schaeffer and Michael Riley-Hill - Phoenix Village Art Center, Phoenixville, PA - October 2016
Coleman Studio Artists Show - Phoenix Village Art Center, Phoenixville, PA - June 2016
SOMA NewArt Gallery - The Mermaid Guild of Cape May, Cape May, NJ - October 2015
Art Ability - Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital, Malvern, PA - November to January 2012-2020
ReSourced - A Recycled Art Show, ArtFusion19464, Pottstown, PA - March 2014
Annual Members Exhibition - Main Line Art Center, Haverford, PA - November 2013
Art on the Hill - The Pottstown Art Show, Hill School, Pottstown, PA - May 2013
Annual Members Show - Phoenix Village Art Center, Phoenixville, PA - May 2011 to 2016
Director's Invitational - Phoenix Village Art Center, Phoenixville, PA - December 2012 to 2014
Coleman Studio Artists Holiday Open Studio - Phoenixville, PA - November 2014-2016
I have always been an avid re-cycler/re-user/re-claimer, and after furnishing and filling my home with vintage finds, it is only natural that this would eventually carry over into my artwork. As a mosaic, ceramics, and jewelry artist, I enjoy piecing things together. I love to use bright colors and bold patterns in my work, which I feel allows me to break free of the restrictions imposed on me by my physical injuries. My love of gardening and anything floral or botanical is reflected in almost every piece I make, giving them a very lyrical and expressive feeling that brings me joy.
Found Object Mosaics
Found object originates from the French objet trouvé, describing an unusual type of art created from undisguised, but often modified, objects or products that have another purpose and are not normally considered art, often because they already have a non-art function.
In my found object mosaics, each piece I use in my work has a story and history that people can connect with. Individually, their flaws are evident, but together they support each other in a freshly created and newly sustainable piece of art. I never find all the pieces for a project at once; each one presents itself to me and must patiently wait until I’ve accumulated a number of complimentary pieces that will eventually come together to make a one of a kind bouquet. Sometimes it’s a very long wait! But, searching for just the right item to complete a piece is part of the fun for me. In my studio, I’m surrounded by all kinds of interesting things I’ve found to work with, and everywhere I look there is a new source of inspiration. I often have many projects sitting in wait for just the right pieces to fill out the bouquet and move to the next step in the process.
What I love most about found art mosaics is that I can fully integrate my love of art, antiques, collecting, and gardening into every piece I create! It’s like solving a puzzle and painting a picture all wrapped up into one very meditative process. I also appreciate the challenge of taking man-made objects and repurposing them to reflect the beauty we find all around us in nature.
More Details..
Recognitions & Awards
January 2020 "Help That You Can Bank On" Article, Philadelphia Inquirer 1/19/2020
https://www.inquirer.com/life/time-banks-phoenixville-neighbors-volunteer-exchanges-edgar-cahn-20200118.html
March 2015 Best In Show - "Black Tie Bouquet" Phoenix Village Art Center
March 2014 Best In Show - "Pretty In Pink" ArtFusion19464 - ReSourced Show
http://artfusion19464.org/exhibits/past-exhibits/resourced/
May 2012 Honorable Mention - "Copper Field Flowers" Phoenix Village Art Center
May 2012 Honorable Mention - "Tea Party" Art on the Hill - The Pottstown Art Show
May 2011 People's Choice Award - "Grampa's Fiddle" Phoenix Village Art Center
May 2011 Vote For Your Favorites At Phoenix Village Art Center - Article, Phoenixville Patch
https://patch.com/pennsylvania/phoenixville/vote-for-your-favorites-at-phoenix-village-art-center
Selected Exhibitions
Artist Guild of the Cape Studio Tour ~ Cape May County, NJ ~ October 2021
Arts & Soul Studio & Gallery - West Cape May, NJ ~ Resident Artist, Summer 2021
Harbor Gallery, Nature Center of Cape May ~ Cape May, NJ ~ May 2021
Malvern Retreat House Juried Art Show ~ Malvern, PA ~ February 2018, 2019, 2020
Artful Wishes ~ Make A Wish Foundation - Cherry Street Pier, Philadelphia PA ~ September 2019
Renew ~ A Recycled Art Show ~ ArtFusion19464, Pottstown, PA - November - January 2019
Art Gallery at Devon ~ Devon Horse Show, Devon, PA ~ May 2017
Chester County Studio Tour, Phoenixville, PA ~ May 2017
Reclaim - A Recycled Art Show - ArtFusion19464, Pottstown, PA - October/November 2016
Journeys: Artwork by Carla Schaeffer and Michael Riley-Hill - Phoenix Village Art Center, Phoenixville, PA - October 2016
Coleman Studio Artists Show - Phoenix Village Art Center, Phoenixville, PA - June 2016
SOMA NewArt Gallery - The Mermaid Guild of Cape May, Cape May, NJ - October 2015
Art Ability - Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital, Malvern, PA - November to January 2012-2020
ReSourced - A Recycled Art Show, ArtFusion19464, Pottstown, PA - March 2014
Annual Members Exhibition - Main Line Art Center, Haverford, PA - November 2013
Art on the Hill - The Pottstown Art Show, Hill School, Pottstown, PA - May 2013
Annual Members Show - Phoenix Village Art Center, Phoenixville, PA - May 2011 to 2016
Director's Invitational - Phoenix Village Art Center, Phoenixville, PA - December 2012 to 2014
Coleman Studio Artists Holiday Open Studio - Phoenixville, PA - November 2014-2016
