Julie Mars

Commission me to design an interior or exterior artwork created out of stained glass mosaic for your public, corporate, and private space.

Throughout  my career, I have created a distinct body of woven stained glass and bead mosaics on canvas, panels, salvaged glassware, and other objects. My work evolved out of an interest in upcycling. In the 90’s I started out embellishing single-serving juice bottles to make a series of colorful bottle tree fruits. To this day, I am still scouring Goodwill, Salvation Army, and stained glass suppliers for salvaged materials to make into extraordinary artworks.

I work like a crafter but design like a fine artist. I love the media of colored glass and reflective acrylic beads for the diverse colors, lusters, translucencies, and other optical effects they offer. I craft glass, bead weavings, and salvaged materials to create fine art wall pieces, mosaics, vessels, sculpture, and installation.

My work is inspired by science, technology, literature, and artists that I admire.

I am a graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. I have been a fine arts professional for over 30 years as an artist, gallerist, curator, and museum administrator. I am currently the Director of Communications at the Addison Center for the Arts where I foster and promote the art and artists of the western suburbs of Chicago.