In the millennia before illuminated screens filled our vision at every turn (and every hour), the kaleidoscopic colors of a stained-glass cathedral window were about as absorbing and awe-inspiring a thing as one could imagine. These days, there’s something captivating about subtlety and restraint — and contemporary glass artists are following the lead of minimalist fashion designers, jewelry makers and furniture builders, bringing new energy to this traditional form. Read on for a few of our favorite examples of minimalist glass art.
Large palm wall hanging by Meg A. Myers, $80
Shop: Meg A. Myers uses exclusively upcycled glass reclaimed from discarded window panes to create the handmade terrariums, wall hangings, and mirrors that fill her shop. (Even better? She learned her glass working technique from her dad!)

The exterior of the Abbey Church of St. Foy in Conques, France, and a detail of one of the church’s glass windows by artist Pierre Soulages; photo via Tourisme Conques
See: It took more than 700 glass-making test batches for acclaimed French artist Pierre Soulages to find the precise balance of translucence and opacity he wanted for the “unstained” glass windows he created for the Abbey Church of St. Foy in Conques, France, in 1994. The windows make for a kind of poetic inversion of the painter’s typical works — abstract, mostly black, brushstroke-centric canvases — but in both, he relies on shifts in natural light to bring out a range of hidden shades.
Follow: Artist (and Etsy seller) Lesley Green’s @bespokeglass feed isn’t limited to color-free creations — you’ll spot plenty of green glass cactus sculptures and golden, honeycomb-like suncatchers in the mix — but her clear and clear sandblasted designs are every bit as impactful as those with more vivid hues.
What are you obsessing over right now? Tell us in the comments.
45 comments
Katrina Dzerkale from Dominna said 4 years ago
Your wall hanging pieces are AMAZING !!!!
Sue from SuesAkornShop said 4 years ago
Just gorgeous! Congrats on the feature.
Plexi Shock from PlexiShock said 4 years ago
Wonderful!
renee and gerardo from GTDesigns said 4 years ago
Amazing work! It's awesome to see how an artist's surroundings or visits to certain places influence the art. Really cool pieces!! TFS!
accentonvintage from accentonvintage said 4 years ago
great article!
Sarah from CoralVinylCo said 4 years ago
Great article! I also love the work from NojaGlassDesign
R.M Garrett from ArtisticAcrylics said 4 years ago
It is amazing how beautiful and artistic your glass creations are! I can't believe you do all this with glass, It's a mystery to me. Congratulations on your feature, and I wish you continued success!!
Kashuen Collectibles from Kashuen said 4 years ago
I love the upcycled glass idea. Very unique technique.
Marisa M. from FeltInMyHeart said 4 years ago
Great shops. I enjoyed browsing through their beautiful creations. Love the copper and glass ring box from Waen!
Priscilla from Gardenmis said 4 years ago
Love this minimalist take on glass art! Congrats on the feature :)
Aimee from AimeezArtz said 4 years ago
Lovely work, let the sunshine in.
Sujata from TreasuredMemoryLane said 4 years ago
Very Cool! Congratulation on the feature!
Georgia from JewelMeShop said 4 years ago
Great article! This palm wall hanging is wonderful!
Maria from WebBoutiqueCrafts said 4 years ago
Great article and wonderful! pieces of art. I simple love that some artist are giving old glass new life...Up-cycled!!!
Flair Nouri from FlairPaintings said 4 years ago
Great article. Very nice works!!!
Nicole from KarmaCodeOne said 4 years ago
Wow ! love this feature , Every piece is so beautiful !
Olga from LinenAndTailor said 4 years ago
Lovely work! Congratulation on the feature!
Suzanne Rorick from SRorickArt said 4 years ago
Wow! I can't imagine how much time and patience went into doing 700 glass testing batches for the Abbey windows, but the result is beautiful!
Yadaluk from Muntra said 4 years ago
Amazing Great ideas!
Tim and Brigita Cornwell from jacobswoodentoys said 4 years ago
Wonderful! Congrats on the feature.
Dana from ArtayaLoka said 4 years ago
I love the hand!
aressa from OriginalBridalHanger said 4 years ago
Awesome glass work! So unique!
Jennifer Tyson from LadyInPurpleBoutique said 4 years ago
What a great topic! I'm obsessed with the feather stained glass!
TropicalGarden from TropicalGarden said 4 years ago
Amazing and inspiring pieces! Congratulations on the feature:)
coalchild from coalchild said 4 years ago
Beautiful work, nice feature! Like your stained glass vision!
Cathy White from msbijouxjewelry said 4 years ago
That Abbey window is wonderful, so inspiring, thanks for sharing
Relly from RelsFindsNapaValley said 4 years ago
I always admire stained glass artwork... awe the color, the design -- old or new capture my attention. Valerie, you featured great selection in your blog. Thank you.
Renee from RandMhandmade said 4 years ago
Beautiful!!
Greg and Mary from LightingAlchemy said 4 years ago
Amazing work! Congratulations!
Colleen O'Neal from truthbeautyandlove27 said 4 years ago
Beautiful interesting pieces!
Tatiana Scalozub from TSminibears said 4 years ago
very unusual and interesting idea!
Elizabeth Kerr from TheBentNail said 4 years ago
amazing talent!
kim rhodes-thomas from pinksnakejewelry said 4 years ago
Beautiful Creations!!!
Susan Wagner from beachbabyblues said 4 years ago
Absolutely brilliant !!!
Lara Smith from TheInkRoad said 4 years ago
DEAR ETSY TRUST AND SAFETY - please respond!!!! CASE 90247638697 WAS NOT RESOLVED CORRECTLY!!!! I CANCELLED MY ORDER AND SHE IGNORED ME AND SENT IT ANYWAY. It was the WRONG COLOR AS WELL.
Rachel Bingaman from BingArt said 4 years ago
I'm kind of obsessed with that glass feather! Too cool! Love the minimalist glasswork :)
mpalumbo said 4 years ago
Great to see a feature on stained glass! I also love RivenBarrowGlass https://www.etsy.com/shop/rivenbarrowglass they do occult inspired work that I have purchased from before and they are excellent!
Mi H from MCART30 said 4 years ago
Love the palm. Very creative!
JOANNA from BUSTANI said 4 years ago
Lovely ♥ Congratulation on the feature!
Bill Sampson from LostFairySales said 4 years ago
I just adore stained glass! I live in a 20's house and have a lot of it and it just makes me cringe when I see people say it's got to go!! Especially on these home shows. Your work is awesome. I'd like to try my hand at it sometime but to many things to do... Keep up the amazing work.
Haley Rivera from HaleysHoundHaus said 3 years ago
I love the feather! It is beautiful. Congrats on the feature, well deserved.
daniela palatnik from danielapalatnik said 3 years ago
Wow!! Admiration for your art!!
Nupur Goyal from iDukaan said 3 years ago
This is super creative...Keep up the good work :-)
Irina from MyVitraz said 3 years ago
Great works!
Marbel Jewels said 3 years ago
This glass is great! I saw these kind of minimalist at Galician Stained glass studio and his works were amazing but really expensive shameless promotion: http://www.artgsg.com/