Artistic Tile recently received a special Craft Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Tile Industry for its collaboration on the design elements of the new Artistic Tile showroom in LuxeHome at Chicago's Merchandise Mart. The award is sponsored by the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC) International Union.

At the BAC Awards presentation are (from left): International Union (IU) executive vp Ken Lambert; IU secretary treasurer Henry Kramer; Artistic Tile’s Dana Borgersen; Brad Trostrud of Trostrud Mosaic & Tile Co., Inc.; Administrative District Council 1 of Illinois executive vp Ralph Affrunti; IU president James Boland (at podium); and IU executive vp Tim Driscoll.


Artistic Tile recently received a special Craft Award for “Outstanding Contributions to the Tile Industry” for its collaboration on the design elements of the new Artistic Tile showroom in LuxeHome at Chicago’s Merchandise Mart. The award, sponsored by the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC) International Union, “recognizes skilled and talented BAC craftworkers, officers, and union contractors for their roles in advancing North America’s masonry industry.”

Union president Boland, commenting on Artistic Tile’s award, said the firm has made a “remarkable and lasting imprint on the tile market and industry.” Boland also expressed his hope that the award would serve as “the foundation for a long and productive association between Union craftworkers and contractors.”

The awards ceremony were held February 22 in conjunction with the union’s winter Executive Council meeting in San Diego, CA. BAC president James Boland praised this year’s recipients: “Our winners illustrate the enduring artistry of the BAC crafts, members’ skills, and the spirit of service and collaboration that our members and signatory contractors bring to their work and to their communities.”

Members of BAC Local 21 of the Administrative District Council 1 of Illinois and BAC signatory contractor Trostrud Mosaic & Tile Co., Inc. (Wood Dale, Illinois) were honored for their work on the Artistic Tile project with the Best Tile Project Award. John Flynn, union president, said, “Projects of this caliber would not be possible without the close collaboration of visionary owners like Nancy Epstein and the Union contractors and skilled Union masonry trowel trades craftworkers they employ. We congratulate you on this well deserved honor.”

Dana Borgersen, Retail Design Manager of Artistic Tile, who oversaw the project in Chicago, accepted the award on behalf of Artistic Tile and Nancy Epstein, founder and CEO.