about illuminata

W ith intent to bring the ‘WOW’ to a space, Julie Conway utilizes glass to refract and reflect light through glass, to create a transcendent moment, and spark a sense of wonder in architectural space.

As the founder of Seattle-based studio Illuminata Art Glass Design, Julie and her team can work with you to create the extraordinary lighting experience for any space, including luxury hotels, airports, hospitals, bars, restaurants, award winning homes and museum exhibitions.

Julie’s studio practice of 25+ years has yielded a collection of bespoke lighting elements, hundreds of site-specific installations, as well as several international awards and recognitions.

Modern design, custom interiors, public spaces, high ceilings, are all part of her process.

Transformation of space and environment. Bring

LIGHT

and beauty into the world.

Illuminata, an intentional design fabrication studio merges elegant blown glass forms with industrial elements to produce patterns of light and shadow, a signature to Julie’s artistic expression.

Art installation becomes functional design. The goal is transformation of space with light. Julie’s Mission: To Bring Light & Beauty to the World.

Contract Julie as your partner for large-scale projects worldwide. Her expertise in glass, lighting and suspension alongside her international languages and design awards make her the perfect asset to have on your team for international design lighting installations.

Julie conceives all site-specific original designs, and also executes their fabrication in the hotshop with her team. She and her engineers craft the bespoke suspension systems and blueprints for armatures, and integrates the technical electrical components seamlessly. She communicates and coordinates with teams of electricians, installers, architects, designers and clients to realize her artistic vision to her specifications.

Selected acknowledgements: The A’ Design Award 2023, LIT Awards (Light in Theory) 2018 & 2020, Gray Magazine Editor’s Pick 2020, Corning Museum of Glass GlassFest 2018, Glass Biennial Bellevue Arts Museum 2018, Venice Biennale 2018 exhibitor, Women in Lighting/ Light Collective arts nominee, 2022.

Select clients: Four Seasons Seattle, SeaTac International Airport/ Seattle Made Store, Google, Hilton, Marriott, Living Computers Museum, Embassy Suites, Din Tai Fung.

Goldfinch Tavern – Four Seasons Hotel

Thank you, Julie for all of your incredible work to create the phenomenal lights in Goldfinch Tavern. The reflections of light along the walls is beautiful. Art lovers, rejoice!

Collector – Boulder, CO

I first saw Julie’s work installed at the New Mexico Museum of Art in Santa Fe and liked it a lot. Julie was happy to adapt her rain drops to create a chandelier over our ten foot dining room table. It looks as beautiful as I hoped and attracts lots of compliments.

Collector – Seattle, WA

Just installed the new light in my living room. DAMN, it’s beautiful! Absolute perfect fit. Thanks. I’ll send you pics in a month or so when I get around to finishing pimping my house.

Guy Clark – New York, NY

Julie is truly a special artist and one of my most treasured assets. Her glorious glass work is the “jewelry” for my one of a kind interior design projects.

Satisfied Homeowner

OMG that piece is MAGICAL!!!! Julie you are BRINGING IT!!! This is seriously gorgeous. Major gorg. Never seen anything like this before…its like a wonderful underwater sea creature. On acid. And that’s a compliment!!!!

Collector – Crested Butte, CO

The chandeliers are AWESOME! They fit the house perfectly. I have had TONS of compliments on them. Thanks, Thanks, Thanks, Worth every penny & then some!

Tom Trenelone – Architect

We bought the Sheik of Abu Dabi Dubai your blue/green bowl for his birthday as a thank you gift! Great stuff! Keep it up!

Functional Art Gallery

We have been working with Julie Conway at Functional Art Gallery for over 7 years now and have sold dozens of her beautiful light fixtures to discriminating clients all over the country. Julie’s creations are superb and very seldom does an artist come along with as much passion, talent, and creativity as Julie brings to her work. From large custom made chandeliers to smaller pendants designed for over the counter – each is truly unique and reflects a rare, awe inspiring sensitivity to the juxtaposition of glass, metal, color, and light. If you are thinking about commissioning a piece or a series of fixtures made by Julie, think no more and DO IT! I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Bébé Regnier, Owner, Lampworks – New York, NY

Julie makes our custom blown pendants. Working with Julie is a pleasure. She instinctively gets what our clients want, and has always managed to delight them!

Lori Anderson – Anderson Interiors

I have worked with Julie on many custom projects. The experience is always enlightening from start to finish. We start with the functional aspect and then collaborate on ideas, sketches, material selections and design. Because my clients are looking for collectable art in their lighting, Julie’s work is an integral part of the project.

Ryan Downs, President, Proxibid, Inc.

Working with Julie to bring custom lighting into our workspace was a great experience. Julie included our team in the entire process from design conception through creation and installation and the end result is fantastic. She is a true professional!