Inspiration comes from many life experiences, both present and past. For local and international stained glass artist, Marlene Zullig, it came to her as a child from her two grandmothers—Evelina and Rosanna.

Marlene’s maternal grandmother, Evelina, was a Renaissance woman who could create with her hands just about anything she could imagine. She was a master quilter who designed and made hundreds of handmade quilts from scraps of fabric. Marlene remembers watching her create fabulous quilts, putting together shapes of all sizes and colors.

Little did Marlene know then that she would be creating stained glass art with meticulously hand-cut pieces of glass in all sizes and colors! Marlene’s paternal grandmother, Rosanna, was the person who always encouraged her to reach beyond, think outside the box, and use her talents in creative ways.

If you ask Marlene, she will tell you that there was never a time in her life that she wasn’t creating art starting with crayons, watercolor, acrylic, and oil, but when she was first introduced to the art of stained glass while living and working in Switzerland—Eureka!!  This was when she realized the connection between her grandmother’s art and her newfound art of stained glass.

Stained glass is similar in many ways to hand quilting in that each piece is individually cut out and pieced together in a way that creates beautiful art.  She never looked back. Marlene trained in Basil, Switzerland, initially and went on to train in New Jersey, and later in New York.  She also loves creating jewelry from sea glass, sterling silver, and genuine gemstones.

Marlene holds dual citizenship in Switzerland and the United States. She is inspired by the beauty of her favorite Swiss city, Lugano, and the beauty of life in the historic St. Augustine area. Much of her art revolves around the ocean and sea life and the semi-tropical areas she has come to love. Her art is an eclectic mix of functional art—lamps, mosaic mirrors, and one-of-a-kind stained glass panels and windows.

Her art is represented at P.A.St.A. Fine Art Gallery, 214 Charlotte Street, St. Augustine, where she is currently President.