Neptune Rising

“Neptune Rising” is a mosaic floor installation in the sculpture garden at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. Adjacent to Owen Hall, this mosaic tells the story of rising sea levels as a result of climate change, and the significant impact it is having on the rich cultural history of Venice, Italy. The artwork comments on humankind’s impact on the environment and its impact on us.

The detailed Venetian section of the mosaic includes several different kinds of marble and granite. The rising tide of water is made of Pennsylvania bluestone. We fabricated this piece in our Asheville shop and installed it on site in May 2023.

The mosaic is inspired by the stone floors of Venice, Italy. Basilica San Marco was built there almost 1000 years ago. Some of its original floors still survive, a testament to the quality and creativity of the artisans of the time. Venice was an affluent state, an important seat of commerce and culture in the world at the time. The construction was ornate and embellished and pushed the technical and creative limits of the builders. Even now, such floors are challenging to build.