It was a trip in 1985 to the Smithsonian Museum's Arts and Industries Building with its intricately designed tile floor that motivated Edward and Anne to shift the focus of their work away from hand thrown ceramic vessels. They were stunned by the building's beauty and its uplifting effect. Realizing anew how important the environment is on the human spirit, they decided to found Nocera Art Tile Co. Their vision is to make art that becomes a part of everyday life, and whose owners experience the harmony in living with beautiful surroundings.

They organized their company into two sections. The Product Division makes tile and products enhanced with it. The Custom Shop offers design and fabrication services to design specifiers.

Today, the company grows at a sensible pace, and team members are happy with Edward's and Anne's philosophy. "Being small is fine with us. Making all our tile in house lets us personalize each client's order and oversee its production every step of the way. And, because everyone on the team is passionate about ceramic art, it makes the studio's work some of the most distinctive tile designs on the market."

Staff Biographies

ANNE NOCERA, President
Anne studied design at the Newark School of Fine and Industrial Arts, Newark, NJ, and ceramic art with Ruth Schaul of Alfred University. She has taught ceramics and art at several New Jersey colleges. Anne, the firm's president and design director, additionally has been educated in business management and has had an extended career at the executive officer level.

EDWARD NOCERA, Production Manager
Edward has worked as a ceramic sculptor and architectural terra cotta renovator in the New York metropolitan area for over 20 years. He received his training in art and ceramics at the New York School of Visual Arts, Penn State University and Peter's Valley School of Crafts. Edward is the vice president in charge of production.

Associated Artisans

These highly talented artisans join Anne and Edward as needed. They work under their direction to create Nocera originated concepts.

ROLF BECK, Master Sculptor
A native of Germany, Rolf came to the United States at the age of nine. His father, a painter and sculptor, encouraged his young son to pursue a vocation in the arts. Rolf's career was launched when he created a great number of original models that were used to produce metal medallions and plaques for the Medallic Arts Company, New York. Rolf sculpted Nocera's latest series of large size high relief architectural ornament.

WALTER ERES, Ceramic Painter
Walter was educated at the Brooklyn Museum, New York University and the New York Academy. A lifelong painter in traditional media, under the instruction of Edward Nocera he has successfully master the difficult discipline of painting in the fine art style with ceramic glazes on a clay body.

ADAM WOJCICKI, Model and Mold Maker
Adam was trained in ceramic production in the Academy of Fine Arts in Poland where he eventually became a professor of ceramic technology. His professional career in America has been as a ceramic artist, architectural sculptor and model maker. Adam worked on some of the models for the Accents line.