Nawal Motawi founded Motawi Tileworks more than 20 years ago. A University of Michigan art school graduate with a restless spirit and an interest in applied arts, Nawal moved to Detroit to learn tilemaking at Detroit’s storied Pewabic Pottery. She returned to Ann Arbor after a few years and began making her own tiles in a garage studio and selling them from a stand she rented at the local farmers’ market.

Today, Nawal is still designing and making tiles in Ann Arbor. She employ more than 30 skilled, finicky, and joyful people.  With her team of designers and craftsmen she creates handmade, historically-informed art tile for distinctive installations and as art pieces.