Chuck Franklin, Stained Glass

Chuck Franklin began working in stained glass in Portland in 1974.  Specializing in commission work, he created residential, commercial, and religious art with a studio that – at its peak – had 20 full-time employees. Their work can be seen across the country in public art spaces, including several restaurant chains, casinos, churches, and businesses. Public art in Oregon includes stained glass at the libraries in Lebanon and Sweet Home, as well as the Beaverton City Hall.

In 2002, Franklin was featured on Oregon Public Broadcasting’s Oregon Art Beat, and in 2008 he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Art Glass Association of America. In 2015 he retired from the Portland Studio, and he and his wife moved to Waldport, Oregon. Since moving to the Oregon coast, Chuck has continued to create one-of-a-kind pieces, working closely with clients to bring color and beauty into their spaces. He maintains a small studio where he creates works of art for galleries, shows, and selected commissions.

“The combination of color, line, and light was always appealing to me, both from an artistic and technical standpoint,” said Franklin. “Since retiring to the coast, I’ve found that the ocean and the beach have had an influence on my work, both in designs and materials used. I’ve also found that, even in retirement, the joy of painting with glass has never left me.”