The Mudlark Mosaicist

A delicate drawing of a withered flower with a long thin stem, sparse petals, and a fuzzy center, on a plain white background.
A person working on botanical illustrations at a wooden table with watercolor sketches, pressed leaves, and lunch plates, surrounded by art supplies.
Person working with tangled metal wires outdoors, possibly repairing or repurposing them.
Five small stones with painted orange and brown flower designs, arranged on a rough stone surface outside.
Hands examining a circular mosaic with colorful tiles on a stone surface.
Close-up of a white palette with various brown and black pigment powders and chunks, placed next to a piece of paper with handwritten text, on a wooden surface.
Drawing of overlapping spirals made with black ink, featuring concentric circles of varying sizes and intricate line patterns.

About

A woman with gray hair in two braids wearing a yellow t-shirt and black overalls, sitting outdoors in a forested area, leaning against a tree.

Erika Johnson is the director of tours and programming for The Ruins Project, an outdoor contemporary mosaic museum created by Rachel Sager on the remains of a historic coal mine. Erika’s work is rooted in memory, storytelling, and the interconnectedness of all things. Traditional and contemporary mosaic techniques provide both method and focus for her current pracice using reclaimed materials, industrial waste, historic artifacts, and foraged natural materials. She is the former executive director of Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse, and has led creative workshops, industrial history tours and environmental education for many arts, culture, and environmental organizations.