In his latest artistic journey, Chuck Close discovered the mosaic technique, drawing undeniable connections between his work and the ancient tradition of mosaic art, from the Hellenistic murals and floor mosaics of Pompeii to the early Byzantine and Renaissance tesserae mosaics of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople.

Close's new approach to mosaics reflected his photographic reality with surprising harmony, enhancing the visual impact of his signature technique, as the structured grid gave way to the tactile, fragmented nature of mosaic art. This exploration was informed by his involvement in New York's subway art project, where he created 12 large mosaics, each nearly 9 feet tall, blending classical mosaic techniques with his contemporary vision. The monumental scale and use of traditional mosaic materials allowed Close to explore new relationships between abstraction and realism, ultimately enriching his grid-based portraiture with a sense of physicality tactile energy.