Rob Strati's Fragmented Series: Broken Plates Become New Illustrated Narratives
Rob Strati, an artist, turns broken porcelain plates into artwork in his series titled Fragmented. This project was inspired when his wife accidentally shattered a plate belonging to his late mother-in-law. Rather than discarding the fragments, Strati expanded upon the cracks, reminiscent of kintsugi, while allowing new shapes to form. In a conversation with My Modern Met, he shares insights into his instinctive artistic approach and the impact of John Cage on his work. Upcoming endeavors include a joint exhibition, Fragmented Horizons, set to open on September 18, 2026, at Studio Shop Gallery in Burlingame, California; a showcase with Miart Gallery in London in October; a book featuring an essay by Glenn Adamson in November; and events in Palm Beach and Art Miami in December. His creations can also be seen on Porcelain Projects and Instagram.
Key facts
- Rob Strati creates illustrations that extend the scenes on broken porcelain plates.
- The Fragmented series began when Strati's wife broke a plate from his late mother-in-law.
- Strati's work is compared to kintsugi, but he allows the broken pieces to unfold into new narratives.
- Strati cites John Cage's ideas on chaos as influential.
- Fragmented Horizons, a two-person exhibition, opens September 18, 2026, at Studio Shop Gallery in Burlingame, California.
- An exhibition with Miart Gallery in London is scheduled for October 2026.
- A book on the Fragmented series with an essay by Glenn Adamson is planned for Art Week in New York in November 2026.
- Strati will present new work at Art Miami with Fremin Gallery in December 2026.
- An art-and-culinary experience in Palm Beach with Adelson Galleries is being developed for December 2026.
- Strati's earlier works included installations and digital pieces exploring structures expanding from central points.
Entities
Artists
- Rob Strati
- Glenn Adamson
- John Cage
Institutions
- Studio Shop Gallery
- Miart Gallery
- Adelson Galleries
- Fremin Gallery
- Porcelain Projects
- My Modern Met
Locations
- Burlingame
- California
- London
- New York
- Palm Beach
- Cape Cod
- Boston
- Ohio
- Provincetown