Around Brentwood
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
MOSAIC ART STUDIO
ADDING COLOR TO TOWNE SQUARE
For Hanife Yerebakan, owner and studio manager of Mosaic Art Studio, bringing Turkish mosaic art to Brentwood is part of a much larger journey— one rooted in tradition, hospitality, and sharing.
Growing up in a village in Turkey, Yerebakan remembers making bread for the entire community— cooking for many and sharing with neighbors. That spirit of generosity and connection has stayed with her.
Married in Turkey, she and her husband later spent nine years in Tanzania, East Africa. Five years ago, they moved to the United States for a teaching position at a charter school, where Yerebakan taught the Turkish language. After settling in the South Hills— first in Whitehall and now in Mt. Lebanon— they began searching for the right space to open a studio.
Driving through Brentwood, they found it. The Towne Square location stood out with its high ceilings and large windows— ideal for showcasing the vibrant mosaic lamps that now fill the studio.
“ The best thing is being human in the world, and the hardest also. Human is the same everywhere, but the culture and places are different. Each country is unique and each continent is unique. There are some huge differences, but they have similarities too,” Yerebakan said, reflecting on her experiences living and teaching around the world.
That belief in shared humanity is reflected in everything she does— from inviting guests to create their own lamps to sharing Turkish tea, coffee, and traditional treats. cKeesport rentwood
CITY BRIEFLY OF MCKEESPORT BRENTWOOD NEWS
58 BRENTWOOD-BALDWIN-WHITEHALL
An Experience Rooted in Tradition Guests begin by placing colorful tiles on paper, transferring the pattern to a glass globe, and carefully filling in the gaps with beads. The result is a handcrafted Turkish mosaic lamp— glowing with color and history.
Workshops range from $ 60 to $ 160 depending on the design selected. The studio plans to expand offerings this year, including additional painting classes and ceramics by summer.
Beyond the art itself, the experience is intentionally welcoming. Visitors are invited to relax, enjoy unlimited Turkish tea and Turkish delight, and gather for meaningful conversation— just as Yerebakan once gathered with her village community.
The studio also offers traditional Turkish coffee, including coffee workshops prepared on hot sand, along with homemade gifts from Turkey and baklava made with real butter and pistachio.
Today, Mosaic Art Studio is the only Pittsburgh-area location among several branches in the United States— and it has quickly become a destination. By sharing her skills, culture, and hospitality, Yerebakan is adding more than color to Towne Square— she is creating connection.