Since the establishment of Stelz Studios in 1980, Steven Stelz has been dedicated to producing beautiful works of art using fine opalescent glasses. Renowned for his artistic achievements in traditional stained glass, Steven Stelz creates fine opalescent leaded glass windows, lighting, screens, ceilings, glass mosaics and pate de verre lamps and windows.

The results of his extensive study and enduring experiments with glass reflect the style, sophistication and extraordinary quality found in the old glass masterworks of the late 19th century American glass artists. Louis Tiffany, John LaFarge, Fredrick Lamb, Maitland Armstrong and other 19th century American glass artists comprised a movement known as the American School of Glass. Stelz’s goal is to follow in the tradition of the American School of Glass techniques. 

The American School techniques and the glass itself differs greatly from earlier leaded glass works of the United States and Europe. Earlier windows relied heavily on the use of paint to create their windows. Whereas, the American School techniques incorporate hand-cast opalescent glass into the work. Color, tone and detail are expressed using the color and variegations found within the glass itself, while the application of paint is strictly limited to figural elements such as faces and hands. Another American School technique known as plating is effectively used in our windows. Plating is a multi-layering of glass used to manipulate a color tone and create the illusion of depth. Acid etching techniques, enameling, and other traditional glass treatments are also used as they were 100 years ago.