Egyptian Artist Uses Microscopic Pieces to Make Massive Art

30 July 2010

Egyptian mosaic artist Saad Romany Mikhaiel

A New Exhibit at

Cairo's Opera House

highlights the work of Egyptian Saad Romany Mikhaiel. The 52-year-old uses miniature pieces of glass, stone and other materials to create intricately detailed mosaics that he hopes will inspire both the public and other artists.

Saad Romany Mikhaiel peers through a large magnifying glass in his studio. With the focus and patience of a surgeon, the bearded Egyptian artist delicately places a small piece of stained glass in the face of one of his portraits.

Staring through the magnifying glass, Mikhaiel makes sure that all of the pieces - called tessarae - are exactly where they are supposed to be. The result is a powerful portrait of a bearded man in formal Arabic dress.

After graduating with a degree in fine arts, Mikhaiel worked as a jeweler and interior designer for several years. He used that experience to combine jewelry design and traditional mosaic techniques to create stunning portraits.

His works, called micro mosaics, include portraits of actor Omar Sharif, Britain's Queen Elizabeth, Egyptian Novelist Naguib Mahfouz, American television host Oprah Winfrey, and Cleopatra. Mikhaiel has also done a version of Vincent Van Gogh's Starry Night.

Mikhaiel has created 39 works for this exhibit. The artist says he hopes his work will inspire others who are interested in mosaics. "I would like to send a message to all people who love this art," he said. "I am offering all of my efforts to build a base for all people who are interested in this art, and for artists who can work in this art field."