Not Clay, but… | Javier de Riba’s Painted Faux Tiles in Abandoned Urban Spaces

BARCELONA — Javier de Riba‘s Floors series awakens abandoned urban environments with his beautiful tile-like floor paintings. Through his public space interventions, he aims to question the value of objects and space.

His ‘Floors’ project sees colorful, geometrically patterned faux tiles imprinted on concrete surfaces, sidewalks and skateparks using stencils and spray paint. Mirroring the traditional motifs that embody the culture of Barcelona, the interventions interweave floral symbols and shapes to form decorative ornamentation. these configurations take shape through the meticulous layering of colors, applied in a particular sequence over a period of time.

While some of his site-specific paintings are neatly housed inside frame-like borders,, usually on the floors of the urban space,  others’ geometric forms reach out into their environment. His works are of varying patterns, colors and dimensions, sometimes even traversing an entire floor.

Watch this time-lapse video to see how he creates his tile floors:

About the artist: Javier de Riba works as part of the Reskate Arts & Crafts Collective, who develop graphics and communication projects with a focus on sustainability and humane treatment. With each new endeavor, his restlessness brings him to question his personal style, and reinterpret it to best serve each project. Each piece challenges Javier de Riba’s aesthetic, driving him to try new styles and techniques while balancing his existing abilities with his desire for growth and exploration. His journey is an ongoing battle against stagnancy, in favor of versatility and innovation.

Do you love or loathe this work from the worlds of contemporary ceramic art and contemporary ceramics? Let us know in the comments.