Washington Glass Studio — Public Art, Community-Driven Monuments, and Architectural Glass
Founded in 2001, Washington Glass Studio is a Washington, DC–based public art studio specializing in site-specific glass and mixed-media artworks for civic, architectural, and landscape environments. Our work bridges contemporary glass art, sculpture, architecture, and community engagement to create permanent public installations that carry cultural meaning, narrative depth, and visual impact.
Public art should do more than decorate space. It should tell stories, invite participation, and reflect the people and histories connected to a site. At Washington Glass Studio, each project is shaped by its specific place, social context, and community voice—resulting in artworks that are both visually compelling and culturally grounded.
The studio is directed by artists Michael Janis, Tim Tate, and Erwin Timmers, whose combined experience spans glass and steel sculpture, architectural design, time-based and electronic media, sustainability practices, and large-scale public art installation.
Michael Janis, the studio’s public director, is widely known for narrative glass works and community-engaged public monuments that explore themes of identity, memory, belonging, and social history. His work has been commissioned by municipalities, arts commissions, libraries, schools, and cultural institutions throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.
Community-Engaged Public Art
Process matters. Community engagement, collaboration, and transparency are central to how our public artworks and monuments are conceived and built. Many Washington Glass Studio projects actively involve local residents, students, and stakeholders in the creation of glass components—ensuring that each finished work carries collective authorship and lived experience, not just symbolic representation.
This participatory approach has become a signature of the studio’s public art practice and is especially vital in projects addressing historical memory, social justice, and neighborhood identity.
Sustainability and Material Innovation
Sustainability is integral to our practice, not an afterthought. From recycled and low-impact materials to energy-efficient lighting systems and durable fabrication methods, we prioritize environmental responsibility while creating long-lasting public artworks designed for continuous public interaction.
Public Art Partnerships and Commissions
Washington Glass Studio’s public art and monument projects are frequently initiated through partnerships with municipalities, arts commissions, architects, planners, and community organizations. Our team brings both creative flexibility and technical rigor to complex public art commissions, delivering works that meet architectural, regulatory, and cultural requirements while maintaining a strong artistic voice.
Follow recent public art and monument projects—including works in progress—on Instagram: @publicartglass
Green Community Gateway, Washington, DC
The DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities commissioned the sculpture for the new Unity Healthcare facility in Washington, DC The design of the public artwork was intended to mark the symbolic entrance to the Kenilworth / Parkside section of DC’s Ward 7. After meeting with community representatives, the WGS team focused on themes that were strongly held. A “Community Gateway Arch” became the vision for the placemaking sculpture that would help identify the new environment. The glass panel insets in the 16′ tall sculpture would be made with the help of the neighborhood residents, students of the high school, and the staff of the new Unity Healthcare facility. The use of internal LED lighting allows a spectacular presentation at night.
Library of Congress Monumental Doors
Adams Building — Washington, DC
Washington Glass Studio was commissioned to design and fabricate a pair of monumental cast-glass doors for the historic Adams Building of the Library of Congress.
Conceived as a contemporary intervention within an Art-Deco landmark, the doors integrate sculptural relief glass panels, bronze framing, and advanced engineering to meet preservation, security, and structural requirements. The imagery embedded in the cast glass references themes of knowledge, illumination, and cultural continuity, creating a symbolic threshold between the public realm and the world’s largest library.
The glass surface captures and refracts light throughout the day, animating the entryway while remaining visually harmonious with the building’s classical architecture. The project required close collaboration with architects, preservation specialists, structural engineers, and Library of Congress officials to ensure historical sensitivity and long-term performance.
Fabricated as a collaborative project between Washington Glass Studio and Portland OR, FireArt Glass Studio, the Adams Building doors exemplify our ability to merge contemporary glass art with heritage architecture.
The project was featured in American Craft Magazine (July 2013).
Essential Connections
J-Sol Apartment Complex — Arlington, VA
Washington Glass Studio, with artist Michael Janis, was commissioned to design, fabricate, and install an outdoor public artwork for the J-Sol residential development on a prominent corner site in Arlington, Virginia.
The glass and steel sculpture is composed of nearly 100 individually hand-cast glass panels set within a bold geometric framework of acute angles. The form references the sculptural qualities and verticality of the new residential tower, creating a visual dialogue between the artwork and the surrounding architecture.
Through the layering of color, light, and shadow, the sculpture defines the site and establishes a new sense of place at street level. The work merges architecture and contemporary design with Washington Glass Studio’s signature material—glass—reflecting the rhythms of modern urban life.
Essential Connections exemplifies the studio’s ability to integrate site-responsive public art into large-scale residential developments, creating durable, visually dynamic works that enhance the built environment.
The Legacy of the Land and Rivers
Cedar Hill Medical Center — Washington, DC
Client: BlueSky Design
Washington Glass Studio was commissioned to create a site-specific glass mural for the lobby of the new Cedar Hill Medical Center, a 136-bed hospital tower serving one of Washington, DC’s most medically underserved communities in Ward 7 and Ward 8.
The artwork was designed to be safe, durable, and suitable for a hospital environment, incorporating wipeable, hospital-grade glass surfaces while maintaining sculptural depth and visual richness. The commission called for a strong sense of pride in place, with references to local landmarks, culture, notable figures, and the natural environment.
The resulting 8-foot by 5-foot mural functions as a collaborative “glass quilt,” with each panel telling a distinct story while connecting to shared themes of resilience, care, and community. Signature components reference DC landmarks and cultural touchstones, including the “Big Chair,” the historic Anacostia sign, the Anacostia Roller Skating Pavilion, the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge, and Anacostia Historic District rowhouses.
A central feature of the mural honors Frederick Douglass, whose nearby preserved home and estate give the hospital its name. His likeness appears as a contemporary abstract interpretation of his iconic portrait, embedded within the glass composition.
With its layered textures, vivid color palette, and sculptural presence, The Legacy of the Land and Rivers creates a warm, welcoming threshold for patients, families, and staff. The mural reflects Washington Glass Studio’s commitment to community-centered public art and the role of creative expression in healing environments.
Ingredients for Life
Safeway Inc., Bethesda, MD
Washington Glass Studio designed a large-scale recycled glass and steel public artwork for Safeway’s LEED-certified supermarket in Bethesda, Maryland. Commissioned as Safeway’s first public art project for its national store portfolio, the installation reflects the company’s commitment to sustainability and community-focused design.
Integrated into the Bradley Street façade, the artwork extends more than 40 feet long and over 10 feet high, activating the streetscape and establishing the building as a civic gateway to Bethesda’s Central Business District. Responding to the architecture by Rounds VanDuzer Architects, the piece features colorful cast glass made from recycled material salvaged from the original Safeway store on the site—transforming reclaimed materials into a durable, site-specific public artwork.
The Beauty in a Garden Comes from More than One Flower
Site Specific Artwork for Residential Development, Greenbelt, MD
Washington Glass Studio, led by Co-director Erwin Timmers, created a site-specific public sculpture for the Motiva Greenbelt complex in Greenbelt, Maryland. Commissioned by the owners of Motiva with support from the City of Greenbelt, the artwork was designed as a placemaking landmark that enlivens the public plaza at the main entrance while reflecting the site’s natural surroundings and commitment to sustainable design.
The sculpture, titled Beauty in a Garden Comes from More than One Flower, features two tall, stylized plant forms made of powder-coated steel whose color shifts from green at the base to yellow and red above. Curving stems bow outward and then converge near the top, forming a symbolic gateway. Circular glass “flower” panels—created from recycled glass—were produced with neighborhood participation during workshops held at Washington Glass Studio. Inspired by native flowering plants such as Black-Eyed Susans and asters, the work celebrates growth, diversity, and interdependence, reinforcing the idea that healthy communities, like ecosystems, thrive through variety.
Community Heroes
Shady Glen Fire Station and Cadet Training Building in Capitol Heights, MD
Michael Janis and Washington Glass Studio designed a striking glass and steel sculpture for the entrance to the Shady Glen Fire Station and Cadet Training Building in Capitol Heights, Maryland. The installation honors the dedication of local firefighters and EMS personnel while serving as a bold civic landmark for the community.
Titled Community Heroes, the approximately 15-foot-tall, three-sided steel sculpture is shaped like the iconic firefighter’s ladder and clad in handmade cast glass. The vertical tower features exaggerated foreshortening, symbolizing the heights first responders reach in service. Vibrant, internally illuminated glass panels reference fire prevention, protection, emergency medical services, and the surrounding neighborhood, creating a visually dynamic and durable public artwork that complements the architectural design of the complex.
New Orleans AIDS Memorial, New Orleans, LA
This design was the winning entry from an international design competition. Set in the historic Washington Square Park, the New Orleans AIDS Memorial will provide a healing sanctuary for family and friends and will promote understanding of the human tragedy of the AIDS epidemic. The goal for the monument was to create a public landscape where anyone who has been touched by AIDS can find comfort and consolation within a dignified and creative community setting. The memorial, made of concentric steel rings framing inspirational multicultural cast glass faces, will provide a powerful yet comforting reminder of the meaning behind the memorial.
Food & Friends Donor Wall, Washington, DC
Charity organization Food & Friends commissioned the Washington Glass Studio to create an outdoor memorial that was also a donor recognition wall, to be installed in the landscaped grounds of their Washington, DC facility. Bas-relief cast glass panels in complementary colors are set into a steel framework that allows light to pass thru the memorial wall and create colors and patterns on the surrounding plaza. The recognition panels are inset into the glass, so that names can be added on an ongoing basis. The variety of sizes permits donations of differing amounts to be recognized. The “Garden of Remembrance” opened in September 2009. The nature of the glass panels encourages tactile investigation and contemplative interaction.
Palomar Hotel, Washington, DC
The new luxury boutique hotel in Dupont Circle wanted to project its high-end art house design commissioned the Washington Glass Studio to provide the signature lobby sculpture apart of the hotel’s “Art In Motion” theme.
Made of cast glass, glass with fused imagery and steel, the sculpture was coordinated to enhance the ‘modern elegance’ of the dramatic two-story hotel lobby. 2007 Winner – Best Art category – Boutique Hotel Magazine.
National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD
The newly completed Hatfield Clinic at the NIH campus in Bethesda, MD incorporated cast glass panels between the reception and the patient consulting area. The deep relief panels were made with ‘healing’ imagery and were designed to form a privacy break while being artwork in its own right. The staggered arrangement of the panels allows for cleaning and maintenance of the glass wall.
Liberty Center, Ballston, VA
Washington Glass Studio designed, fabricated and installed the public artwork for Liberty Center, the new one million square foot mixed-use development in the Washington, DC suburb of Ballston, VA. The cast glass and steel mural, titled ‘Tapestry of Community’, incorporates vibrant colors and high relief textures, highlighting areas where the commercial, residential and retail spaces all share a lively plaza and landscaped park. The artwork has received accolades for the visual drama of the ‘flowing, glistening banners’. 
Prince George’s County Courthouse, Upper Marlboro, MD
The new Marbury wing of the expanded Prince George’s County Court complex recycles copper from the historic Duvall wing that was destroyed by fire in 2004. Abstracted and direct imagery from the Prince George’s County, the surrounding area and state were integrated into the recycled glass and steel artwork as a way of making the artwork resonate with the community.
LEED Certified Building Lobby, Washington, DC
The owner and the designers of an environmentally conscious building then under construction at 1129 20th St. NW, Washington, DC, turned to WGS to create a site-specific sustainable artwork piece that would keep in the nature of the building’s LEED gold certified design. Working together with Fox Architects and the building owner, the artwork’s vertical orientation echoes the architectural aspects of the space; mounted atop the subtle white limestone wall. The building and its lobby are very minimalist in design and the texture from the strong artwork provides a beautiful contrast.
The use of recycled window glass was central to the artist Erwin Timmers’ artwork concept, as window glass (aka float glass) is one of the least recycled building materials. Less than 3% percent of discarded float glass is recycled, and this project provided the opportunity to divert at least some from the waste stream.
Montgomery County Veterans Memorial, Rockville, MD
Montgomery County commissioned Washington Glass Studio to create its Fallen Heroes Memorial, which is part of the Judicial Center Annex that was dedicated November 11, 2014. The new plaza area integrates the LED illuminated sculpture with a water fountain, new trees, benches and a Memorial Walkway.
Reading The Water
Bladensburg Library — Bladensburg, MD
Reading The Water, by Washington Glass Studio, is a site-specific glass mural that explores the interconnection between water and human life. Created for the Bladensburg Library, the artwork uses organic shapes and flowing lines to evoke the rhythms of rivers, lakes, and oceans, while translucent and transparent glass panels transform with changing light, creating a dynamic visual experience for library visitors.
The mural highlights environmental stewardship and sustainability, with much of the glass made from recycled materials. Each kiln-fired panel tells its own story, inviting viewers to pause, reflect, and discover new narratives—much like the books on the library shelves. Reading The Water celebrates the elemental beauty of water, encouraging a deeper appreciation for natural resources and the ways they shape our communities and daily lives.
Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
Vanderbilt University medical complex in Nashville, TN, recently opened its new Critical Care Tower. The University commissioned the Washington Glass Studio to create cast glass panels for the nurse’s stations on a number of floors within the new hospital. We wanted to bring the natural world into the medical center. Our goal was to give the patients and caregivers a place that felt restful – a place of healing and renewal. Our inspiration for the artwork was to have the feel of swirling masses of delicate oak, poplar, tulip, gingko and maple leaves in an autumn breeze. Each leaf is detailed, including curved stems and crisp leaf veins. The different level of the hospital would have unique swirling leaf patterns, allowing for differentiation and orientation.
American Physical Society, Baltimore, MD
The American Physical Society commissioned Washington Glass Studio to create an educational artwork to be featured in its commemorative poster for the ‘World Year of Physics’. “A New World View” is now on display at the group entrance of the Maryland Science Center in Baltimore, MD
Rosedale Community Park, Bethesda, MD
The park created as part of a new residential and retail development in Bethesda, MD. It has cast glass bench fronts at the entrance to the park and the park gates have inset cast glass panels. The entrance to the development also features a glass mosaic centerpiece inset flush into the paving.
US Environmental Protection Agency Headquarter, Washington, DC
The EPA Headquarters converted their outdoor courtyard to become an educational low-impact rain run-off project. Using recycled components, the downtown courtyard has become a leading example of eco-art and is a model program by the US Government.
