Jurors’ notes for We’ve Known All Along, 2021

“By definition, innovation is the act of introducing something new. Experimentation requires thinking outside the perceived boundaries of the norm to produce or discover something not seen before. While remaining squarely a mosaic, with beautiful use of andamento, composition and materials - and some surprising and fresh use of dimensional setting - this work by Kelley Knickerbocker pushes the boundaries of the medium. Kelley makes use of uncommon techniques, defacing the glaze layer to uncover more or less of the clay body of the tesserae to produce a subtle gradation of light reflection. She introduces the drawing medium onto the work, not by adding lines to complement the mosaic, but using the mosaic itself as a canvas to completely change the character of the tesserae and direct the narrative. These techniques enhance and complement the work, bringing an unexpected and delightful twist that redefines what mosaic can be.”

Winner, New Horizons award (experimentation and innovation),

2021 International Exhibition of the Mosaic Association of Australia and New Zealand (MAANZ)