Luminosity : Jess Chesser | Waiting For You

16 xx 12, Stained Glass Mosaic

I am a stained glass artist drawn to light, color, and the quiet moments found in nature. My creative process moves in two directions. Sometimes a piece of glass finds me first — its color, texture, or movement already suggesting what it wants to become. In those moments, the work unfolds naturally as I follow the story held within the material. Other times, inspiration begins outdoors, shaped by time spent in nature where shifting light, changing seasons, and organic forms guide new ideas.

My influences are simple and expansive: anyone who chooses to create. Life is full, demanding, and often overwhelming, and I am inspired by all makers who carve out time and energy to bring something new into the world. The act of creating itself feels meaningful — a quiet resistance to the rush of everyday life.  My intention is to offer a soft reminder to slow down and notice beauty — the glow through a window, the pattern of branches, a fleeting moment of calm.

BIO
Jessica Chesser is a stained glass artist whose work is rooted in a deep love of light, nature, and community. She first discovered her passion for stained glass while living in Vermont, where the changing seasons and quiet landscapes sparked an appreciation for color, reflection, and the transformative qualities of light through glass.

After relocating to the Bay Area, Jessica found her artistic home at Stained Glass Garden in Berkeley, where her practice truly began to grow. Surrounded by a vibrant and supportive creative community, she developed both her technical skills and her personal voice as an artist. Jessica’s work is inspired by organic forms— branches, blossoms, forests, and moments of renewal found in nature. She is drawn to the way stained glass shifts throughout the day, allowing light itself to become part of the artwork. Equally important to her practice is sharing the joy of glass with others. Sharing ideas, learning new techniques, and creating alongside other artists has become one of the most meaningful and rewarding parts of her artistic journey.

Through her work, Jessica hopes to inspire moments of light, calm, and connection. She creates pieces that invite viewers to slow down, notice the beauty around them, and reconnect with the quiet sense of renewal and the light that exists within nature and ourselves.