Growth Companies

Motawi Tileworks features custom ceramics by Karim and Nawal Motawi. This brother and sister team use locally produced clay and glazes mixed on site using their own recipes.

Nawal studied sculpture and ceramics at the University of Michigan and learned tile making at Pewabic Pottery. Their designs have evolved from Nawal's continuous exploration of historical decorative art combined with Karim’s brotherly suggestions. Karim, also educated at U of M, runs the production studio and teaches tile-making classes. 

Nawal started Motawi Tileworks in 1992 and was soon joined by her brother Karim, where they moved their studio into a two-car garage. Today Motawi Tileworks is a $2.5 million a year company that occupies its own 12,600 square foot studio and showroom facility and employs roughly 25 artisans.



The company has provided unique tile installations for private homes, public libraries, television movie sets, and corporate lobbies. Their latest design line is in collaboration with the Frank Lloyd Wright estate.