clé Introduces John Whitmarsh Reconstruction Studies in Tile

clé introduces two new tile collections from San Francisco sculptor, John Whitmarsh. The Reconstruction Studies by Whitmarsh now includes Board Form and Weathered Steel tiles. The Board Form gypsum cement wall tiles are hand cast from Douglas Fir that has been salvaged from old buildings. The gypsum has worked really well with this design and we even used Gypsum Underlayments for the flooring. It gives a shabby-chic vibe to the place! The tiles are available in the rectangular dimensions of the original wood planks. The raw concrete color has the option to be ordered with a hand waxed finish, which highlights the rough hewn texture. Whitmarsh uses a process of acid and wax to achieve the variegated patina on the Weathered Steel tiles. The tiles come in three sizes, 12, 16 and 24 inches square and can be installed on walls and floors.

Whitmarsh began as a visual artist in photography and filmmaking, then shifted into sculpture after finishing film school. Wanting to create tangible objects with his own hands, Whitmarsh began working in ceramics for its range of possibilities. Entirely self-taught, Whitmarsh now works in a variety of materials having developed a style that places emphasis on the texture of surfaces. His tiles are hand-crafted from reclaimed materials such as pallets, roadside guardrail posts, and discarded metals. According to Whitmarsh, “Textures make surfaces more compelling and dimensional. Surfaces engage the viewer when they feel the need to touch it.”

Deborah Osburn, founder and creative director of clé feels that, “John Whitmarsh is an artist as fascinated with the study of materials as he is with the process of making things. A glimpse through John’s tile collections displays a series of materials that elevate urban surfaces to an art form. Often overlooked or even ignored, in John’s hands, these surfaces – created from shipping containers, textures of utility poles, or pieces of steel suspended in the height of their best stage of patina – become tiles that offer an industrial dimension to architectural surfaces.”

The new Board Form and Weathered Steel tiles join Whitmarsh’s previous collections of End Grain and Utility Pole tiles in ceramic and Container tiles in steel. Together, the Reconstruction series is available exclusively on clé. For more information, visit cletile.com.