Houston Llew Spiritiles

Name: Art Leaders Gallery
Price range: $$$

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Houston Llew, an American artist deeply rooted in the charm of the South, is the visionary behind the captivating Spiritiles. During the tumultuous economic climate of 2008, Houston’s artistic journey began at Auburn University. However, fate intervened, leading him to a transformative encounter with master enamelist Zingaro.

Learn More About Spiritiles

The Work: Vitreous Enamel

Under Zingaro’s guidance, Houston delved into the ancient craft of vitreous enamel, a medium dating back over 3000 years. Through relentless experimentation and dedication, Houston honed his skills, giving birth to the iconic Spiritiles. Houston meticulously crafts each piece according to the golden mean ratio, adorning them with layers of finely ground colored glass. Each serves as a testament to his commitment to simplicity and emotional resonance.

In vitreous enameling, artisans apply a thin layer of glass to metal surfaces and fuse them at high temperatures in a kiln, creating luminescent works with fine cracks. These intentional cracks, unique to each Spiritile, make every piece a distinctive work of art.

The intentional crazing marks enhance the visual and tactile experience of each Spiritile, inviting viewers to engage with the artwork on a deeper level. Furthermore, each Spiritile is handmade according to the same dimensions following the golden mean ratio. Houston often expresses that he creates these artworks as “windows of the enlightened spirit”.

Houston’s unique technique involves rolling a pin over the enameled surface to create intentional crazing marks, enhancing light refraction and luminosity. This sets his work apart in the world of enameling, reflecting his unwavering pursuit of inspiration and connection.

Proudly made in the USA

In Houston’s Atlanta studio, he handcrafts every Spiritile with integrity and passion. Sourcing materials locally ensures meeting the highest quality standards, from lead-free glass to meticulously cut copper canvases.

Furthermore, the Spiritile collection evolves with the seasons, with four new releases annually embodying themes of rebirth, adventure, change, and reflection. As a result, collectors eagerly anticipate each release, knowing they acquire not just art, but a piece of their own story. Art Leaders Gallery carries the full selection of current tiles and many retired tiles that are no longer available.

Excellent Gifts

In addition to being excellent gifts, “Spiritiles are about positivity,” Llew says. The quotes on Spiritiles golden sides are specially selected to capture the enlightened moment.

Take a look at Ascent, #155: “I want to be improbable and beautiful and afraid of nothing as if I had wings”. This Mary Oliver quote is accompanied by a beautiful dragonfly symbolizing change and a deeper understanding of the meaning of life.
Be inspired by Rumi on #231, Elysian: “Out beyond ideas of right and wrong there is a field. I will meet you there”.
Show your love with #250, Tandem, a sought after retired spiritile quoting Carlos Santana, “Where you are, that’s where I want to be, and through your eyes, that’s all I want to see”.

Lastly, Spiritiles transcend traditional gift-giving, offering a tangible expression of love, inspiration, and connection.

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Houston Llew Spiritiles

The Work: Vitreous Enamel

Proudly made in the USA

Excellent Gifts

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001 Spirit of Muse “A smile is a light in your window that tells people you’re at home.” – Anonymous

003 Tickled Ivory – “Life is like a piano. What you get out of it depends on how you play it.” – Tom Lehrer

010 Aloft – RETIRED – “To our children we give two things – one is roots, the other wings.” – Hodding Carter

013v4 Tardis- RETIRED – “Embark on the most daring of all endeavors, meet the future without fear and conquer the unknown” – Ferdinand Magellan

033 Brilliant Ride – RETIRED – “I thought of that while riding my bicycle.” – Albert Einstein

037 Play Date – RETIRED – “It takes a long time to grow young.” – Pablo Picasso

048 Bubbly – “May all your joys be real joys, and all your pains, champagne.” – Anonymous

052 Ms. – “Give a girl the right shoes and she can conquer the world.” – Marilyn Monroe

067 Wing It RETIRED – “Don’t get your feathers ruffled over little things. Just wing it.” – Anonymous

071 Hello! – “To have a child is to make the decision that your heart will forever walk outside your body.” – Elizabeth Stone

083 Thanks – “People may forget what you said and forget what you did, but they will always remember how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou

095 Day to Come – RETIRED- “All of the flowers of all the tomorrows are held in the seeds of today.” – Indian Proverb

113 Entwined – RETIRED – “Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.” – Aristotle

124 Bon Voyage – RETIRED – “What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” – Mary Oliver

128 Vintage – RETIRED – “Just like wine, good friends improve with age.” – Anonymous

131 Turner Heart II – “I carry your heart with me (i carry it in my heart)” – e.e. cummings

135 Alight – RETIRED – “Hope is a thing with feathers that perches in the soul.” – Emily Dickenson

138 Memoir – RETIRED – “You will know the true value of a moment when it becomes a memory.” – Dr. Seuss

140 Joyride – RETIRED – “If life was easy, where would all the adventure be?” – Unknown

141 Epic Tales – “A reader lives a thousand lives.” – George R.R. Martin

145 Turning Point – RETIRED – “It’s funny how day by day little changes, but looking back, everything is different.” – C.S. Lewis

149 Awaken – RETIRED- “Each morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.” – Buddha

151 – Shaken – “I like to have a martini, two at the very most. Three I’m under the table, four I’m under the host.” -Dorothy Parker

153 Miracle – “When you need a miracle, just look at your child and realize you created one.” – Unknown

155 Ascent – “I want to be improbable and beautiful and afraid of nothing as if I had wings.” – Mary Oliver

157 – Block Party RETIRED “Welcome friends and let us gather, all in search of song, love, and chatter.” – H. Cooprider

161 Timeless – “You can be gorgeous at thirty, charming at forty, and irresistible for the rest of your life.” – Coco Chanel

162 True North – RETIRED – “Think not that you direct the course of love, for love… directs your course.” – Kahlil Gibran

164 Take Off – “What if I fall? Oh, but what if you fly!” – Erin Hanson

166 Wanderlust – RETIRED – “I haven’t been everywhere but it’s on my list.” – Susan Sontag

172 Feathered Friends – RETIRED – “We have always been and always will be friends. Time can change much, but not that.” – A.A. Milne

179 Brush – RETIRED – “The world tells you to hurry. Art tells you to take your time. Always listen to the art.” – Junot Diaz

180 Sunset Beach – “Smell the sea, and feel the sky. Let your soul and spirit fly.” – Van Morrison

181 Tidal – “Dear Ocean, Thank you for making us feel humble, inspired & salty all at once.” – Unknown

185 In the Moment – “Wherever you are be all there.” – Jim Elliott

186 Perspective – RETIRED “Sometimes all you need is a new perspective.” – H. Cooprider

187 Global – “To the world you may be just one person, but… to one person you may be the world.” – Dr. Seuss

193 Character – RETIRED – “I’m a writer and, therefore, automatically a suspicious character.” – Alfred Hitchcock

196 Parenthood -RETIRED – “Parenting: The best thing you can do is keep up.” – H.M. Rider

197 Temptation – RETIRED – “Lead us not into temptation. Just tell us where it is – we’ll find it.” – Sam Levenson

199 Nectar – “Life is the flower for which love is the honey.” – Victor Hugo

206 Cosmic Morning – RETIRED – “The whole universe awakens with possibility after my morning coffee.” -H.M. Rider

207 Schooling – “While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about” -William Saroyan

208 Depth Perception – Spiritile – “Look deep into nature, and you will understand everything better.” -Albert Einstein

210 Terra Incognita – “May your trails be crooked, winding, and dangerous, leading to the most amazing view.” -Edward Abbey

213 Beacon – RETIRED – “The more light you allow within, the brighter the world you live in will be.” -Shakti Gawain

214 Cue Up – “Music is my Refuge. I crawl into the grooves.” -Maya Angelou

215 Sancerre – “What matters more than he wine is the moment and the friends with whom our wine is shared.” -Olivier Magny

217 Duet – “We are not only lovers, We are the closest of friends.” – Simone de Beauvoir

220 Stellar – RETIRED – “There is always something you can do, and succeed at. Where there’s life, there is hope.” – Stephen Hawking

222 Sea Mate – “In life, it’s not where you go, it’s who you travel with.” – Charles M. Schulz

223 Family Tree – “Other things may change us, but we start and end with family” -Anthony Brandt

224 Dreambound – “Go forth boldly in the direction of your dreams” – Henry David Thoreau

225 On Point – “What seems challenging now will someday be your warm-up.” – Unknown

227 Lucky Find – “Love and luck thrive where they grow wild and free.” -Unknown

228 Chrysalis RETIRED – “A possibility was born the same day as you.” -Marcus Solero

229 Fresh Ride – “My Favorite thing to do is to go where I’ve never been.” – Diane Arbus

230 Euphony – RETIRED – “Art is how you enrich your space. Music is how you enrich your time.” -Unknown

231 Elysian – “Out beyond ideas of right and wrong there is a field. I will meet you there.” – Rumi

233 Untamed – “A life lived wild, is a life well lived.” – Carrie Wild

234 Canvas – RETIRED – “The world always seems brighter when you’ve just made something that wasn’t there before.”

235 Aspire – “The man on top of the mountain didn’t fall there.”

236 Corduroy – RETIRED “Life is a matter of waiting for the right moment to act.” – Paulo Coelho

238 Fulfillment – RETIRED “You will always be the miracle that ﻿makes my life complete.” -George Strait

239 Sterling – “We have always been and always will be friends. That in itself is a tremendous thing.” -A.A. Milne & E.B. White

240 Sea Worthy – RETIRED – “A ship is safe in harbor, but that is not what ships are built for.” – John A. Shedd

241 Delicacy – RETIRED – “Be a cupcake in a world of muffins.” – Unknown

242 Americano – RETIRED – “You are like a fresh cup of coffee first thing in the morning.” – Unknown

245 Our Beat – RETIRED – “We are a natural rhythm machine, we resonate with life beating through our hearts.” – Mickey Heart

246 Fair Winds – “Life is a balance of holding on and letting go.” – Rumi

247 Piece of Me – RETIRED – “Piece of the puzzle you’re my missing part. Oh, what can you do with a sentimental heart?” – She & Him

248 Nurture – RETIRED “The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart.”

249 Combination – RETIRED – “A soulmate has locks to fit your key and the keys to fit your locks.” – Richard Bach

250 Tandem – RETIRED – “Where you are, that’s where I want to be, and through your eyes, that’s all I want to see.” – Carlos Santana

251 American Heroes – “Never was so much owed by so many to so few” – Winston Churchill

238 Fulfillment – RETIRED “You will always be the miracle that makes my life complete.” -George Strait