Biography
Michael R Golden has devoted three decades to creating mosaics and most recently focusing on his company, Avenue Mosaics. A design centric practice with a high-touch approach bringing uniquely innovative tile and mosaic designs to the U.S. and Global markets.
Michael believes that to design successful products it’s vital to start with all the production processes in mind in order to create exceptional new designs that are affordable. All production is contracted to achieve, as Ray Eames said, “the best, for the most, at the least.”
Graduating from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), in 1985,he majored in industrial design with a minor in glass. These studies cultured his ability to think like a product designer – to witness a multitude of production processes, and bring aesthetic value to manufactured goods. This was the beginning of his attentiveness to creating sensitive design.
Soon after entering the work force, Michael became the Design Director of Hasting Tiles in New York City. While there, he introduced Sicis Mosaic into the US market. He was the key person to create designs for the client, technical drawings for the mosaicest in Italy, and installation spec drawings for the installers. Before departing Hastings Michael also worked extensively with New Ravenna Mosaics.
Continuing his work inside the industry with companies like, Artist Tile & Bath, Crossville Tile, Florida Tile, Hirsch Glass, Walker Zanger, Waterworks, and others, Michael created many one-of-a kind hard-surface interiors, using ultra high-end treatments such as micro-mosaics, water jet inlaid Terrazzo, Scaglio, dimensional Pietra Dura and seashell grotto mosaics. Although the work was fascinating, he had a desire to get back to creating products, for major markets.
As Michael began developing mosaic products, he was recruited by Marble Systems to be their Creative Director. Traveling often to their production headquarters in Afyon, Turkey, he was known as the “ATM” for instantly designing new collections.
In January 2010, Michael founded Avenue Mosaic where he develops new and innovative mosaic designs selling throughout North and South America, Europe and Canada. Avenue Mosaics has flourished in the last two years, introducing new collections with wide market acceptance forming key strategic relationships with industry leaders. The Sideview collection for Crossville Tile has received tremendous National recognition. Dune, based in Spain sells Michael’s Groove collection globally, now stocked on five continents.