Charlene McNamara is a native of Ann Arbor, Michigan. She grew up in Ann Arbor and graduated from the University of Michigan. Charlene was an elementary school teacher in the Ann Arbor Public Schools before retiring from teaching to raise a daughter and a son. She has spent the last 30 years as business manager of her husband Jim’s and now her daughter Laurie’s orthodontic practice. Charlene also managed some rental properties until being rescued by her realtor son David.
Charlene first was exposed to the world of mosaics in Pompeii and later in Ravenna, Italy and then took a few classes locally. She continues to evolve as an artist – exploring new media and techniques. After an initial push, she was essentially self-taught.
The culmination of this effort has been the recent completion of her own mosaic studio, which give her plenty of space and light to be her creative self.