Lanzini & Sons · Sacred art and church interiors

Church Mosaic Design and Restoration

Framed Divine Mercy mosaic with Jesus and red and pale rays at Saint Columban in Garden Grove.
The completed Divine Mercy mosaic and its frame.

We design and create church mosaics and restore existing ones. A new commission starts with the sacred subject and architectural setting. An existing mosaic starts with its condition, including the surface beneath it.

A mosaic for a particular place

Subject, scale and color need to suit the wall, niche or devotional setting. Light and viewing distance affect how the image reads from the congregation’s usual position. Nearby marble, paint and furnishings are part of the design conversation.

At Saint Columban in Garden Grove, we designed, assembled, framed and installed a Divine Mercy mosaic in 2018. A separate 2017 tabernacle-niche commission combined gold mosaic, a marble platform and lighting. The two projects served different purposes within the church.

Restoring a mosaic

Loose or missing pieces, cracking, old repairs and moisture concerns need to be examined in context. The appropriate work depends on the mosaic and its support.

At St. Francis of Assisi in Bakersfield, restoration of the large sanctuary mosaic and side chapels included removal of covering tile, cleaning, localized crack and loss repairs, selected regrouting and color blending. Existing differences in panel height were retained.

Planning a new work or a repair

For a commission, send the intended subject, photographs of the setting and approximate dimensions. For restoration, add full views, close photographs of concerns and any known history. Note height, access and signs of moisture or movement.

Read the mosaic planning guide or discuss your mosaic. For a mosaic within a larger sanctuary project, explore liturgical design and sanctuary furnishings.

Project examples

Illuminated gold mosaic niche surrounding the tabernacle above the marble platform.
The gold mosaic and lighting around the tabernacle.

Main sanctuary mosaic wall

Restoring the original mosaics at St. Francis Parish in Bakersfield

Before

Main sanctuary mosaic wall behind the crucifix and altar before restoration.
The main sanctuary mosaic wall before the work.

After

Restored mosaic wall with religious symbols and a grape-and-chalice band above the altar.
The main sanctuary mosaic after restoration.

Begin with the work in front of you

Discuss a commission or restoration

Send the project location, a short description and photographs if available.