Some nights, I leave the tabs of my web browser’s window open so that in the morning, I can revisit my stops along the way down the rabbit hole. Imagine my delight when I rediscovered the link to Mosaika, a Montreal-based art manufacturer collaborating with some of today’s most high-profile contemporary artists.

Mosaika’s specialty is bringing massive, intricate visions of mosaic artworks to life. Their projects have included Chuck Close’s portraits in the New York City subway and a 2,500 square foot mural at a Harlem bus depot designed by Shinique Smith.

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 Alex, by Chuck Close in collaboration with Mosaika (that’s artist Alex Katz portrayed). Ceramic mosaic installed in the 86th Street and 2nd Avenue NYC Subway station.

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 A detail of Close’s Poszi mosaic

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 During the installation of Mother Clara’s Garden, a mosaic made of stained glass, hand made ceramics and glass smelt, by Shinique Smith in collaboration with Mosaika

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 Detail of Mother Clara’s Garden

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 Luis Jacob’s 2012 Spirit of the Grotto mosaic, in the Dufferin Underpass right here in Toronto

The mind-boggling effort that goes into these artworks is illustrated in this video showing the installation of a Micah Lexier work in downtown Toronto.