Tiles for America | Limited Edition of 10
Fine Art Print of Handmade 9 11 Memorial Wall in Manhattan
Some memorials don’t need granite pedestals or gilded plaques. Sometimes all it takes is a fence, a few tiles, and the hands of people who felt the moment deeply. This photograph captures the Tiles for America memorial—an unofficial, organic tribute that began in the aftermath of 9/11, made not by officials, but by ordinary people who needed to say something. Anything.
It’s nestled along a chain-link fence in New York, illuminated softly by an overhead light that gives the entire wall a sacred, almost chapel-like glow. When I walked past this wall, I stopped cold. The handmade tiles—some clumsy, some beautiful—are painted with peace signs, American flags, names, hearts, doves, prayers. There’s a quiet intimacy to it. You’re standing in front of a mosaic of grief and hope stitched together by strangers who never met but felt the same ache.
Framing this image was an exercise in restraint. I wanted the centrelight to anchor the piece, casting just enough warmth to pull your eye toward the phrase “Tiles for America,” and enough shadow to let the individual tiles hold their mystery. It’s emotional without being overt. Symbolic, yet grounded in the rawness of handmade imperfection.
What I love most about this piece is how human it feels. These aren’t polished monuments signed by architects. These are the voices of children, veterans, teachers, immigrants—scratched into ceramic, wired to a fence, and left to weather the city air. It’s not just about 9/11—it’s about how we respond when words fail us.
This fine art print lives in that space between public art and private mourning. It’s a poignant reminder of how we cope with tragedy through creation. For anyone who believes that art has the power to heal and that memory lives in more than marble and steel, this image makes a quiet, resonant addition to any wall.
If this piece speaks to you, take a moment to explore more from my Monument Photography Collection and Social Commentary Photography Collection. These collections hold more than visuals—they’re echoes of lived experiences, frozen in time but still vibrating with meaning.
© Dan Kosmayer, 2017
Edition Information
This photograph is released as a signed and numbered edition of 10 prints across all available sizes. Each print is individually signed and numbered by the artist on the reverse and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.
Once all 10 prints have been sold, this work will be permanently retired, and no further numbered editions will be produced in any size or format. A small number of Artist Proofs may be retained by the artist for archival or exhibition purposes.
Museum Quality Fine Art Prints
All prints are produced by the artist using archival pigment inks on professional photographic paper with a subtle luster finish.
This paper offers a balanced surface that enhances tonal depth, preserves fine detail, and reduces glare under typical indoor lighting conditions.
Each print is carefully inspected prior to dispatch to ensure consistency of finish and presentation.
Free Worldwide Delivery
Each print is personally produced, signed, and packaged by me at my studio in Haliburton, Ontario, Canada.
Orders are shipped worldwide via Canada Post at no additional cost. Delivery times may vary based on destination and local customs processing.
During periods of travel for on-location photographic work, dispatch may be delayed until I return to the studio.
