Piece by Piece

What Piece by Piece does

Piece by Piece is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social enterprise founded in 2007 by Sophie Alpert in Los Angeles. It operates free mosaic art workshops for adults who have experienced homelessness or economic insecurity, primarily in South Los Angeles, Skid Row, and through the West LA VA for veterans and their families. Participants can progress through an optional certification program into paid artists who produce handcrafted mosaic artwork using new and recycled glass, ceramics, and found objects. The organization runs a Shopify-powered e-commerce storefront selling 482+ products across functional art (frames, vases, votives, tiles, hearts, ornaments, jewelry, mezuzahs, home goods), fine art, mosaic-inspired gifts, and Art in a Box DIY kits ($35–$59), with custom commissions starting at $175 and pricing on finished pieces ranging from $12 to $9,600.30. Distribution spans direct e-commerce, curated exhibitions at partner venues (Boomtown Brewery, Temple Menorah), event pop-ups (Artazan Marketplace), and direct corporate sales for awards and team building. Revenue is a hybrid of earned retail sales, custom corporate commissions, and grants/donations from federal and state arts agencies (NEA, California Arts Council, LA Department of Cultural Affairs), social enterprise accelerators (REDF), and individual donors; in 2025, $191,759 was paid to artists (a 37% YoY increase) and 5,865 community members were reached across 112 classes.

Name

Piece by Piece

Legal name

Piece by Piece

Website

https://piecebypiece.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Piece by Piece is a Los Angeles 501(c)(3) nonprofit social enterprise founded in 2007 that runs free mosaic art workshops for adults experiencing homelessness or economic insecurity and sells handcrafted mosaic art, DIY kits, and custom commissions through e-commerce, partner venues, and corporate channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Handcrafted Mosaic Art Products

NAICS

Art Dealers (459920)

SIC

Costume Jewelry & Novelties (3960)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAMAAAD

Crafts & Maker Arts (Ceramics, Textiles, Jewelry, Mixed Media)

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/Arts & Creative Enrichment (Visual Arts, Music, Theater, Dance)

Keywords

• Handcrafted mosaic art
• Social enterprise art
• Custom mosaic commissions
• Art wellness workshops
• Corporate mosaic awards

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Art Product Sales: E-commerce sales of handcrafted mosaic art including frames, vases, votives, tiles, hearts, ornaments, jewelry, and home goods. Products range from functional items ($12-$960) to fine art pieces (up to $9,600.30).
2. Custom Commissions: Custom mosaic artwork for individuals, corporate clients, and organizations including awards, recognition pieces, and large-scale murals. Custom mosaics start at $175 with minimum 4-week production time.
3. Workshop Kits: Art in a Box DIY mosaic kits sold for at-home creative activities, priced at $35-$59 per kit.
4. Corporate Events: Team building workshops and corporate event hosting where participants create mosaics, generating revenue while promoting the organization.
5. Donations and Grants: Charitable contributions from individuals and institutional funders including foundations and government arts agencies supporting the nonprofit mission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Piece by Piece is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social enterprise that manufactures and sells handcrafted mosaic art products (functional art such as frames, vases, votives, tiles, hearts, ornaments, jewelry, and mezuzahs; fine art; and Art in a Box DIY kits) through its Shopify e-commerce store, partner venue exhibitions, and event pop-ups. The organization also delivers free mosaic art workshops, an artist certification program, custom mosaic commissions, corporate awards and team-building events, and large-scale community murals, all powered by artists who have experienced homelessness or economic insecurity.

Product overview

Piece by Piece is a Los Angeles-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit social enterprise that operates an e-commerce platform selling handcrafted mosaic art alongside a free arts program. The core product portfolio includes functional mosaic art (frames, vases, votives, tiles, hearts, ornaments, jewelry, mezuzahs, home goods) and fine art pieces, supplemented by Art in a Box DIY mosaic kits and mosaic-inspired gift items (notecards, notebooks, tote bags, scarves). The organization offers custom mosaic commissions for corporate awards, gifts, and murals, with custom pieces starting at $175. Their social enterprise model combines a retail operation with free mosaic art workshops, artist certification programs, and community art projects. Collaborations include curated collections with Boomtown Brewery, Downtown Women's Center (MADE by DWC), and Temple Menorah. The entire offering is tied together by a mission to empower residents who have experienced homelessness or economic insecurity through the healing power of art.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mosaic Picture Frames Handcrafted mosaic picture frames available in 4x6, 5x7, and 8x10 sizes, featuring vibrant designs created by LA-based artists. Priced $42.60-$360 per unit.
• Mosaic Vases Decorative mosaic vases handcrafted from new and recycled materials, blending artistry with sustainability. Priced $54.30-$780.30 per unit.
• Mosaic Votives Mosaic votive holders crafted during free mosaic art workshops, designed to empower individuals facing economic hardship. Priced $38-$180 per unit.
• Mosaic Tiles Mosaic tiles in various designs including nature, abstract, geometric, and zodiac themes. Priced $53.40-$90.30 per unit.
• Mosaic Hearts Mosaic heart ornaments and decorations symbolizing love, hope, and transformation, handcrafted in social enterprise workshops. Priced $38-$570 per unit.
• Mosaic Ornaments Handcrafted mosaic ornaments including seasonal, geometric, floral, and abstract designs. Priced $38-$51 per unit.
• Mosaic Jewelry Original handmade mosaic jewelry made from new and recycled materials, supporting LA-based artists transitioning from hardship. Priced $54.60-$55.80 per unit.
• Mosaic Mezuzahs Mosaic mezuzahs blending tradition with contemporary artistry, adding vibrant touch to doorposts while symbolizing protection and faith.
• Fine Art Mosaic Collection Fine art mosaic pieces including sculptures, glass-on-glass works, and award-ready artwork created by certified mosaic artists. Priced $105 to $9,600.30.
• Art in a Box DIY Mosaic Kits All-in-one mosaic kits (Dove, Tweet Bird, Butterfly, Moon, Dreidel, Heart, Frame, Coaster designs) that transform ordinary objects into mosaic masterpieces, with easy-to-follow instructions and vibrant tiles. Priced $35-$59 per kit.
• Mosaic-Inspired Soft Goods and Gifts Mosaic-inspired notecards, notebooks, tote bags, pouches, scarves, and soft goods featuring original designs created by Piece by Piece artists.
• Custom Mosaic Commissions and Corporate Awards Custom mosaic services for corporate awards, gala gifts, wall murals, and personalized art pieces for organizations such as Universal Studios Hollywood, AARP, Concern Foundation, City of Glendale, and Jewish Foundation of Los Angeles. Custom mosaics start at $175 with a minimum four-week production time; Ready Awards available with engraved plates in under 2 weeks.
• Mosaic Arts Wellness Workshop Program Free mosaic art workshops providing arts education, skill-building, and income opportunities for adults who have experienced homelessness or economic insecurity in South LA, Skid Row, and at the West LA VA for veterans and caregivers. In 2025, 112 classes were offered and 8,749 paid artist hours were completed.
• Artist Certification Program Optional certificate program guiding workshop participants through mastering mosaic skills and techniques, helping artists challenge themselves and earn supplemental income from the sale of their work.
• Community Art Projects (Large-Scale Murals) Large-scale public mosaic murals and community workshops that beautify Los Angeles while empowering artisans to guide public participation in creating mosaics (e.g., 99-flower commission involving 34 artists and community members, Poppies and Lupine Mosaic for L.A. Family Housing, City of Glendale sunrise mural).
• Corporate Team-Building Mosaic Workshops Team-building workshops and corporate event hosting where participants create mosaics together, generating revenue while promoting the organization (e.g., United Way acorn creation incorporated into a larger mosaic piece).
• Piece by Piece Gift Cards Gift cards allowing recipients to choose their own mosaic art, supporting artists and the Piece by Piece mission.

Quantifiable outcome

• Artists earned $191,759 in 2025, a 37% increase in income
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Boomtown BrewerycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership where Piece by Piece artwork is exhibited and sold at Boomtown Brewery in Los Angeles. Venue at 700 Jackson St. hosts rotating exhibitions and occasional workshops. Shared values around creation, community, and making something beautiful from raw materials.
• Temple MenorahcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecial collection of Piece by Piece artwork on display at Temple Menorah in Redondo Beach (1101 Camino Real). Works celebrating nature and faith are curated to bring color and inspiration to the temple community.
• MADE by DWC (Downtown Women's Center)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration between two LA social enterprises creating home goods collection combining mosaic candles and soaps with mosaic soap dishes. Proceeds reinvested into programs supporting Angelenos on paths to self-renewal.
• Veterans Affairs (West LA VA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWeekly Creative Forces art classes at West Los Angeles VA facility providing healing arts programming for veterans and caregivers.
• Skid Row Action PlancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing mosaic art skill-building combined with therapeutic practices for Skid Row participants, supporting artistic development and mental wellness.
• Glendale Sunrise RotaryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned custom 2'x4' mosaic mural for City of Glendale featuring community members encircling globe with Rotary Areas of Focus.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• MADE by DWC (Downtown Women's Center): LA-based social enterprise of the Downtown Women's Center producing home goods (candles, soaps, mosaic soap dishes) with women transitioning from homelessness. Same social enterprise model, same city, and an existing collaboration partner of Piece by Piece.
• Inner-City Arts: Los Angeles-based nonprofit providing free arts education to underserved youth, with a similar mission of expanding arts access and overlapping institutional funders (NEA, LA Department of Cultural Affairs).

Regional players

• Chrysalis: LA-based nonprofit providing job training, employment, and social enterprise opportunities for people experiencing homelessness and other barriers. Shares the same beneficiary population and city footprint as Piece by Piece.
• Homeboy Industries: LA-based nonprofit operating social enterprises (bakery, silkscreen, merchandise) that employ and train formerly gang-involved and incarcerated individuals. Highly comparable model of using social enterprise to provide income and skills to vulnerable populations.
• Marwen: Chicago-based nonprofit providing free visual arts education to underserved youth. Comparable nonprofit arts education model with similar funder profile, but serves youth rather than adults and operates in a different geography.

Broad incumbents

• Etsy: Global online marketplace for handmade and artisan goods. Piece by Piece sells direct via Shopify, but Etsy defines the broader competitive landscape for handmade artisan products in similar price ranges.
• Ten Thousand Villages: Fair trade retailer selling handcrafted artisan goods with a social mission comparable to Piece by Piece. Demonstrates a scaled social-enterprise retail model around handmade artisan products sold through owned stores and online.
• NOVICA: Online marketplace connecting global artisans with buyers, emphasizing handcraft and social impact. Comparable e-commerce-led model for artisan-made goods with a social mission, though at much larger scale.

Emerging players

• Artaic: Technology-driven custom mosaic manufacturing company using robotic fabrication. Operates in the same product category (mosaics) but contrasts with Piece by Piece's artisan, social-enterprise business model and customer base.
• KiwiCo: Subscription and retail DIY activity kits for kids and adults. Art in a Box Kits share the at-home creative engagement and product-led growth model, though KiwiCo targets broader consumer audiences at scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PL2VeP2WeN_F44ldDoP_2NTOMZTkJy-7B9
• Facebookfacebook.com/piecebypiecela
• Instagraminstagram.com/piecebypiecela

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Piece by Piece