For millennia, mosaics have served as a powerful form of expression, with early examples dating back to ancient Mesopotamia where artists used shells and stones to decorate sacred spaces. Over time, this art form evolved, leaving behind magnificent legacies in Roman villas, Mayan temples, and on the exterior of architectural marvels like La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.

However, modern artists have taken this ancient art form to new and astonishing heights, using unconventional and often recycled materials to create masterpieces on a record-breaking scale. Driven by a desire to make a statement, raise awareness, or simply bring a community together, these artists have transformed everyday objects into stunning visual displays.

Here are some of the most incredible record-breaking mosaics made from modern, unusual materials:

• Largest Car Mosaic (Image): In a tribute to the year of the Ox in 2021, the Geely Emgrand Official Clubs in China created an automotive masterpiece. They arranged 750 Geely cars to form a giant mosaic, which measured a staggering 7,070.26 square meters (76,103 square feet), officially setting the world record for the largest car mosaic.
• Largest Bottle Cap Mosaic: The fight against plastic waste has inspired numerous artists, but few have done it on the scale of Saudi environmental activist Khulood Al-Fadli. In 2023, she earned a Guinness World Record for creating a mural using 500,000 plastic bottle caps. The mural, symbolizing a green Saudi Arabia, covered an area of 383 square meters, proving that art can be a powerful tool for environmental advocacy.
• Largest Doughnut Mosaic (Logo): An American bakery celebrated its 90th anniversary by creating a mosaic that was as delicious as it was massive. The team arranged 14,400 doughnuts to recreate their anniversary logo, covering an area of 83.91 square meters (903.19 square feet) and setting a record for the largest doughnut mosaic. To add to the feel-good story, all the doughnuts were later donated to local non-profit organizations.
• Largest Cereal Box Mosaic: The desire to help others can often spark incredible creativity. In Chicago, a group of high school students created a massive mosaic of the Ukrainian flag using thousands of donated cereal boxes. The project, designed to raise funds for Ukrainian relief efforts and fight local hunger, broke the record for the largest packaged food mosaic of a flag. After the record was set, the cereal was donated to a local food bank.

These projects highlight a beautiful convergence of ancient tradition and modern innovation. They show that with a powerful message and the collective will of a community, almost anything—from bottle caps to cars—can become a piece of art that makes a lasting impact.