Monica Brinkman
Monica Brinkman
Bloom Within
“Bloom Within” is a rich, textural, stained-glass, woven mosaic created with more than 12,000 tiny hand-cut pieces. Coral reefs, ecosystems, lush gardens, the flora and the fauna are the inspirations for this sculpture. They are very fragile and diverse, like our own brains. We must nurture and care for our inner garden. It is all about loving yourself from the inside out!
Sponsored by:
- Garry & Joanne Foster
About The Artist
Monica Brinkman is a contemporary mosaic artist who was born in Canada in 1970 to a German father and Acadian mother. She grew up in the suburbs of Montreal and has lived in Vaudreuil-Dorion for the past 12 years.
Her artistic process began as a child sewing patchwork quilts and collecting seashells and sea glass on the beach. Now, her primary sources of inspiration are social issues, justice, peace and her community – the people and their stories, the environment and memories.
Her mosaics are characterized by the large variety of tesserae she uses, including stained glass, smalti, millefiorie, ceramic tiles, china dishes, broken mirrors, vintage jewelry, mirrors, buttons and so much more. Each piece of tesserae is carefully selected and hand cut to fit next to another one of a thousand tiny pieces which create her mosaics. She works in two dimensional form, and more recently has been exploring 3D art.
Brinkman won the visual arts 2016 “One for All” international competition organized by World Citizen Artists, a group working actively to unite those who believe that together, we can create positive change in the world.
She has participated in many group and solo exhibits in the Montreal area, including the 2016 exhibit “Repeat offenders” at La Gallerie de la ville with textile artist and friend Tina Marais Struthers.
Brinkman is also known for her artistic practices as a Cultural Mediator in Vaudreuil-Dorion, which is recognized by United Cities and Local Governments as one of 11 leading cities worldwide for sustainable urban development through culture.
For the past four years she has been the artist-in-residence for “Les Artistes du Bonheur,” a group of 11 adults living with an intellectual disability and/or autism.