Luminosity : Julie Orchard | Almond Blossoms

13.5 x 10, glass, mixed media

California Central Valley native Julie Orchard, joined the glass community in 2004 with a passion for the art and a desire for growth.  Through her work at Stained Glass Garden, she immediately immersed herself in every aspect of the craft, studying techniques in stained glass, hot glass, mosaic and glass fusing, and refining her skills studying with professionals from around the country.  In 2025, after more than two decades as an instructor and gallery director at Stained Glass Garden in Berkeley, she expanded her creative vision beyond personal studio practice to become the gallery owner.  Creatively, Julie enjoys reaching across mediums for inspiration to adapt a wide range of techniques into her teaching and glass practice. Nature and California are recurring themes, but the intention is always to explore the limitless possibilities of this medium and celebrate the wonder of this material, be it through designing custom stained glass designs, developing techniques for kiln formed glass, or fabricating mosaic installations.  She continues to dream about glass every night.

Stained Glass Garden Collaboration

For 50 years, Stained Glass Garden has been a vibrant home for the celebration of glass art in all its forms. The first business to open in the now-bustling Fourth Street district of Berkeley, this multi-faceted gallery and education center is dedicated to showcasing exceptional glass art and fostering community by hosting artists from around the Bay and beyond, in addition to supplying artists and teaching the most innovative techniques in stained glass, mosaic, and glass fusing.  Whether a student is picking up a glass cutter for the first time to an artist refining years of practice, Stained Glass Garden is a place to learn, experiment, and be inspired