Stanton Studios is proud to announce the completion of sixteen custom stained glass window scenes for the George Fox University Chapel in Portland, Oregon. Designed and fabricated entirely in-house, each window depicts a unique biblical story through vibrant color, abstract imagery, and exceptional craftsmanship.
These contemporary stained glass windows combine three time-honored techniques: hand-painted glass, kiln-fused glass, and traditional leaded construction. The result is a collection of dynamic artworks that clearly tell biblical stories while embracing a modern artistic style.
A Collaborative Design Process
One of the most rewarding aspects of this project was the opportunity to collaborate with the George Fox University community. During the design phase, art students from the university visited our studio to view the work in progress, share their perspectives, and offer creative input on the window designs.
These conversations provided valuable insight and helped strengthen the connection between the artwork and the community that will experience it every day. The gallery below includes photos from their visit, capturing a unique moment in the creative process as students and artisans came together around a shared vision.
Handcrafted from Start to Finish
Every window began as an original design created by our team of artists. Individual glass pieces were carefully selected, hand-painted, and kiln-fired to create detailed imagery and rich textures. Many elements were further enhanced through glass fusing, a process that layers and permanently bonds glass together to add depth, movement, and visual complexity.
Because every piece is created by hand, the process requires significant time, skill, and attention to detail. From design development to fabrication, each stage reflects the dedication and craftsmanship that define our work. You can add this paragraph at the end:
The image shown showcases the fused glass whale during an intermediate stage of production, before it has been cut to its final dimensions and assembled into the finished window.
At this point, the fused glass elements have already been kiln-fired and bonded together, allowing the depth, movement, and detail of the design to emerge. The piece will next be carefully trimmed to size and incorporated into the window through the traditional leaded glass process, where each section is fitted, leaded, and soldered together to create the completed artwork.
Traditional Leading and Assembly
Once the painted and fused components were completed, each piece was hand-cut and assembled using lead came. Our craftsmen fit, soldered, and finished every panel by hand, transforming hundreds of individual pieces of glass into cohesive works of art. This labor-intensive process provides structural integrity and contributes to the character and beauty of each window.
The Completed Installation
The gallery below showcases all sixteen completed stained glass windows as they appear within George Fox University Chapel. Together, the windows create a cohesive visual narrative that fills the space with color, light, and biblical storytelling.
From intimate details to full chapel views, these images highlight the scale, artistry, and impact of the finished installation and demonstrate how the windows transform the worship space throughout the day.
A Fun Side Note: Narnia and Middle-earth at George Fox University
In addition to the sixteen biblical stained glass windows created for the chapel sanctuary, Stanton Studios also designed and fabricated four additional custom stained glass installations for George Fox University. Located elsewhere within the university’s church building, these unique fused glass artworks celebrate two beloved literary worlds: The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings.
Created using many of the same hand-painted and kiln-fused glass techniques featured in the chapel windows, these pieces bring iconic scenes and imagery from the works of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien to life through color, texture, and light. While separate from the chapel sanctuary installation, they provide another example of how custom stained glass can be used to tell meaningful stories and inspire the imagination.
