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Backlit Onyx vs. Backlit Glass

I work with many different kinds of clients in many different kinds of settings. Over time, I’ve discovered that some of these clients find me while searching for something else.

For example, one might search the internet for “stained glass” while exploring ways to enhance a hospital chapel, but then stumble across my work and instead become interested in the expansive interpretations that contemporary art glass can offer.

I think a similar thing sometimes happens with clients who set out looking for backlit onyx or alabaster, popular materials for reception feature walls, elevator corridors, countertops, fireplaces, and even restrooms.

Both backlit onyx and backlit alabaster can be incredibly beautiful – as demonstrated in the image above – and treated in many different ways. Among other qualities that I appreciate, they reference the natural world and can draw attention to the fluid relationships between order and chaos. They also can bring a hospitable warmth to otherwise formal spaces.

Yet given how widely onyx and alabaster have been used in corporate settings over the past few decades, they also can feel impersonal and limited. Some people gravitate to these materials for their strengths, yet wind up feeling in want of something a bit different.

In my humble opinion, that’s where glass comes in. Glass offers many similar qualities to onyx and alabaster, while also opening up a vast array of possibilities in terms of light, translucency, color, and pattern. Plus, every glass installation I create is wholly unique, designed specifically for the space in which it will live, with careful consideration of the architectural context and the client’s purpose, culture, and audience.

If you are considering using backlit onyx or alabaster for a project, but don’t feel confident that these materials are the right choice, please feel free to contact me. I’d love to learn about what you’re doing and explore the possibilities of backlit glass with you. More examples of my work in a range of settings can be found here.