Teaches at Santa Monica College
Carmelo Fiannaca’s deep ambition for art began as a young child in Agrigento Sicily, Italy. His family soon thereafter moved to Switzerland and it was during this time that Carmelo discovered drawing and painting. By 10 years old, he gained attention through his comics and stories, whose illustrations showed advanced abilities in art. During a summer trip to Sicily, Carmelo discovered the Cathedral of Monreale in Palermo where he became inspired to explore the color, texture and surfaces of mosaic art. He received his degree from Plattenleger Verband in Lucerne, Switzerland in design, restoration, fabrication and installation. Carmelo continued his studies at the Santa Monica College, and School of Deisign, Art and Architecture. Carmelo designs, fabricates and installs one-of-a-kind mosaics and sculptures for gallery, architectural, community and home settings. Mosaics are produced using the finest materials gathered from sources around the world: smalti, gold, marble, vitreous glass, ceramic and more. He recently completed a 3-year long installation at Duke’s Point – the former home of John Wayne - in Newport Beach, California. Carmelo’s award-winning art is exhibited both nationally and internationally and is represented in private, public and corporate collections. An accomplished artist, Carmelo travels the world and continues to explore both classical and cutting-edge mosaics, sculptures and installations. He continues to draw his inspiration from the world around him, and his work reflects many of the masters: Picasso, Gaudi, Warhol, Klimt, Hundertwasse, Nikki de Saint Phalle, Simon Rodia, as well as his own Italian mosaic art heritage. He is a member of the American Mosaic Artists.