New York City in Glass: A Handcrafted Mosaic Map by Allison Eden Studios

Brooklyn, NY

Only in New York… NYC in Your Shower

What could be more New York than stepping into your shower and being surrounded by a handcrafted glass mosaic map of the city itself?

Allison Eden Studios transformed one of the world’s most recognizable places into an extraordinary piece of architectural glass art, meticulously recreating New York City in mosaic tile—from Bowling Green north toward the Bronx—with streets, parks, waterways and recognizable geographic details interpreted entirely in glass.

Created by Allison Eden and the glass artisans at Allison Eden Studios in Brooklyn, this highly detailed mosaic required weeks of painstaking handwork, planning, cutting, placement and refinement. Each area of the map had to be translated from geographic information into a visual language of glass while retaining the character and recognizable structure of New York City.

This was not simply a tiled shower wall.

It was the creation of a one-of-a-kind mosaic artwork.

The waterways were developed in deep, rich blues, while parks and green spaces introduce jewel-like greens against a predominantly white and neutral city grid. Fine lines and carefully positioned pieces trace streets, bridges and boundaries across the composition, creating an artwork that reveals more detail the closer it is viewed.

The finished mural feels strikingly contemporary from across the room, yet at close range the incredible level of hand craftsmanship becomes apparent.

Master Craftsmanship in Glass Mosaic

Creating a map in mosaic presents a very different challenge from creating a traditional repeating tile pattern.

Maps depend upon precision.

Streets must relate correctly to waterways. Parks must appear in recognizable positions. Shorelines need to remain identifiable. Tiny changes in line or proportion can alter the geography completely.

Allison Eden Studios’ artisans spent weeks translating these details into individually selected and hand-worked pieces of stained glass and mosaic.

The process requires both artistic interpretation and technical control.

Glass cannot simply behave like ink on paper. Curves must be constructed from individual pieces. Narrow streets must be suggested without overwhelming the artwork. Large areas of water and land need variation and visual movement so the finished piece remains beautiful rather than looking like a printed map enlarged onto a wall.

That balance between accuracy and artistry is what makes the mural remarkable.

From a distance, the viewer immediately recognizes Manhattan and the surrounding waterways.

Up close, the piece reveals thousands of decisions made by hand.

From Brooklyn Studio to Finished Interior

The mosaic was handcrafted at Allison Eden Studios in Brooklyn before being installed as the dramatic focal point of this luxurious marble bathroom.

The installation was brought to life by designer Jenn Medoff of Dragonfly Design, working through Decorative Materials of Denver.

Surrounded by restrained white marble, glass and polished fixtures, the mosaic becomes the undisputed centerpiece of the room.

The contrast is particularly effective: the quiet architecture of the bathroom allows the intricate map to function almost like a monumental painting.

Except this artwork is made entirely from glass.

A Love Letter to New York City

For New Yorkers, geography is personal.

A neighborhood is rarely just a location.

It might be where someone grew up, where they fell in love, where they built a career, where their children were born or simply the place they consider home.

That emotional connection to place is one reason Allison Eden Studios loves creating custom map mosaics.

A mosaic map can celebrate New York City, Brooklyn, Manhattan, the Hamptons, Long Island, Miami, Palm Beach, a hometown, a favorite vacation destination, a university campus—or virtually any location with meaning to the client.

The geography becomes part of the story of the home.

Your Town. Your Neighborhood. Your Story—in Glass Mosaic Turn.

The New York City mural demonstrates what is possible when a map becomes artwork.

Allison Eden Studios can create custom mosaic maps of cities, towns, neighborhoods, coastlines, islands and meaningful destinations, tailored specifically to a client’s architecture and color palette.

A custom map mosaic could become:

a dramatic shower wall, a feature wall in a living room, a swimming pool mural, a hotel or restaurant installation, an entry foyer, a corporate artwork, a commemorative piece, or a freestanding collectible mosaic.

The map can be highly detailed and geographically recognizable or interpreted more abstractly using color, texture and movement.

That flexibility makes each piece truly personal.

Made in Brooklyn. Installed Worldwide.

For more than three decades, Allison Eden Studios has specialized in transforming glass into custom mosaic artwork for residences, hotels, restaurants, casinos, public spaces and private collections.

Every project combines artistry with the extraordinary technical knowledge required to fabricate architectural mosaics for permanent installation.

Our mosaics are created by skilled glass artisans in our Brooklyn studio using stained glass, specialty glass, mirror and other carefully selected materials.

Large murals can be fabricated as numbered, interlocking sections so the artwork can be installed seamlessly at projects throughout the United States and internationally.

This New York City map began with one of the world’s most familiar landscapes.

After weeks in the hands of Allison Eden Studios’ mosaic artists, it became something entirely different:

a portrait of New York City created in glass.

And while this particular artwork celebrates New York, the idea can begin almost anywhere.

Tell us the place that means something to you. We can turn it into glass.
Now available through the finest tile showrooms across the country. Gorgeous photography by Gotham Interiors @gothaminteriors

Who creates custom mosaic maps of cities and towns?

Allison Eden Studios in Brooklyn, New York creates custom glass mosaic maps of cities, towns, neighborhoods, coastlines and other meaningful locations. Each project can be customized in size, color and level of geographic detail for residential, hospitality and commercial interiors.

Can a map be turned into a custom mosaic wall?

Yes. Allison Eden Studios can translate a map into a handcrafted glass mosaic mural for shower walls, bathrooms, feature walls, pools, entryways and architectural installations.

Can Allison Eden Studios create a mosaic of my hometown?

Yes. A custom mosaic can be developed from the geography of a hometown, favorite city, neighborhood, island, vacation destination or other meaningful location.

Where are Allison Eden Studios mosaics made?

Allison Eden Studios designs and handcrafts custom glass mosaic artwork in its Brooklyn, New York studio. Large projects can then be shipped as numbered interlocking sections for installation throughout the United States and internationally.

How long does a detailed custom mosaic take to create?

The fabrication time depends on the size and complexity of the artwork. Highly detailed mosaics such as this New York City map can require weeks of hand cutting, arranging and fabrication by skilled glass artisans.