Inside the Mosaic Tile House: L.A.’s Most Unique Art Attraction

Bored of visiting the same museums? For those seeking a unique art experience in Los Angeles, look no further than the Mosaic Tile House.

In the early 1990s, married couple and artists Cheri Pann and Gonzalo Duran began transforming their Venice Beach house into a living art installation. Nearly every surface—inside and out—is covered in colorful mosaic tiles, mirror fragments, hand-painted ceramics, and found objects, creating a kaleidoscopic effect. It all started as a way to make an “ugly house pretty” while waiting for the plans to be approved to build their art studio.

Blurring the line between home and museum, the Tile House is a private residence and is only accessible by appointment or walk-ins on select days. Visitors can take a guided tour with a local Venice Beach docent, explore Cheri and Gonzalo’s respective studios, and purchase original ceramic works in the eclectic gift shop. The home is a deeply personal expression of their relationship, experiences, and artistic visions. With over four decades of working together, their collaborative process has evolved to highlight each artist’s strengths: Cheri typically creates hand-painted tiles in the studio out back, while Gonzalo designs and installs the mosaics—resulting in a continuous collaboration between painter and sculptor.

Nestled in a residential area, the Mosaic Tile House is not easy to miss. Its rainbow gate calls to you, beckoning you to explore what has become a beloved part of the Venice Beach community and art scene. It is sure to excite all ages. Passing through the entrance—a wire tunnel decorated with knickknacks and tiles—one feels as though they are stepping into Wonderland.

The front yard is a miraculous introduction to the house. Upon entering, one immediately notices a massive fortune cookie sculpture on the left, with fortunes pouring out, created by Gonzalo. Tiles and oddities decorate the entire outdoor space. Trees and plants grow among the decor, some rising from colorful repurposed bathtubs. In front of the porch sits a blue-tiled antique sink, an elephant mosaic made of pots and pans, and two dolphins jumping through coffee mug handle hoops over an iron clawfoot bathtub. From iguanas to giraffes, colorful characters fill the space. Cheri also melts bottles and creates fused glass pieces used as “mosaic,” visible on the outdoor bench.

The interior is just as vibrant as the exterior, with every wall, ceiling, and even bathroom tile reflecting a maximalist aesthetic. A converted garage and extension of the property house Cheri and Gonzalo’s studios in the back of the home.

As you enter Cheri’s studio, you’ll see her portraits of Gonzalo above a stained glass door. Bright light pours through skylights overhead. Below, multiple tables lined with paint and porcelain serve as her creative workspace. Along the walls are large-scale paintings based on the “Tree of Life,” including Sleeping Beauty’s Tree, Tree of Man & Woman, Tree of Dancing Flames, and Tree of Dream Story.

Passing murals in the side yard that depict scenes from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, one arrives at Gonzalo’s studio. Formerly a garage, his space includes automatons, flip-books, welded gates, constructions, paintings, drawings, and sculptural objects.

Inside the main house, visitors can explore the gift shop’s treasures. All glass and clay items are one-of-a-kind and handmade by Cheri and Gonzalo. Be sure to look up to admire the mosaic tile around the skylight—as well as a “before” photo of the house. Connected to a converted Mexican kitchen, the shop showcases some of the artists’ personal collectibles: a pink and purple antique stove, a ladybug toaster from Paris, and a pink rice cooker and Hello Kitty coffee maker from Japan.

This artist-created home is a lifelong art project that continues to evolve. Cheri and Gonzalo are still actively adding to and modifying the mosaics, making the space a constantly changing work of art. The house is never truly “finished.” As a result, every visitor experiences the Mosaic Tile House at a different stage of creation—an encounter that cannot be replicated.

For those seeking to interact with living artists, engage with community, and adventure into a world of pure imagination, the Mosaic Tile House is a magical place not to be missed.