About
Bel Art Glass Studio
Bel Art Glass Studio is the atelier of Marija Kovac - a master stained glass artist trained in the classical European tradition at the University of Belgrade and the Art School in Hannover, Germany. Founded in 1986, the Studio has spent four decades creating works that define and transform spaces - from intimate residential commissions to monumental hotel, bank, and restaurant installations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and United States.
The Studio’s work spans the full range of glass art: stained glass, mosaic, fusion glass, custom lighting, and large-scale sculptural installations. Every project begins with a deep engagement with the client’s vision and the demands of the space - realized through creative design, technical precision, and uncompromising craftsmanship.
Notable commissions include the complete glass program for the Blue Diamond Palace Hotel in Bursa, Turkey; the IN Hotel in Belgrade; the National Bank of Serbia; multiple casino and hotel interiors across the former Yugoslavia, specially Montenegro; and piublic art installations and gallery exhibitions in the United States, including Florida, New York, and Chicago.
Now based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Bel Art Glass Studio is available for new commissions, architectural collaborations, and restoration projects throughout South Florida and internationally.
ARTISTIC APPROACH
The Philosophy
Glass is a material of paradox - simultaneously solid and liquid, opaque and transparent, ancient and contemporary.
Working with glass means working with light itself : understanding how it enters a space, how it changes through the day, how it carries color and mood.
Craft First
Every piece is made by hand using traditional techniques - Cooper foil, lead came, mosaic setting - that have been refined over centuries. There are no shortcuts in glass art.
Collaboration
The best work emerges from genuine collaboration.
We listen carefully, ask the right questions, and
bring our expertise to bear in service of your vision
- not our own.
Light as Medium
We design not just the glass, but the light that passes through it. The color, texture, and opacity of every piece of glass is chosen for how it will transform the light in your space.
Enduring Quality
We work to create pieces that will last generations.
The materials we use, the techniques we employ,
and the care we bring to every detail are all in
service of longevity.
A Commission for Every Scale
Whether you are an architect specifying glass for a hospitality project, an interior designer seeking a signature piece for luxury residence, or an institution commissioning a permanent installation - Bel Art Glass Studio has the experience and craftsmanship to realize your vision.
Every project, regardless of scale, receives the same level of personal attention: from the first conversation through design development, fabrication, and final installation. Marija works directly with clients, design teams, and contractors - ensuring that the finished work exceeds expectations and stands for generations.
Artist Statement -
Marija Kovac
My work in stained glass is a dialogue between light, structure and emotion. I explore how traditional techniques can be transformed into contemporary expressions, where each piece carries both precision and fluidity.
Glass, as a medium, allows me to play with transparency, reflection and color in a way that changes throughout the day - bringing life and movement into each composition. My inspiration often comes from human expression, ornament and cultural motifs, translated into strong lines and balanced forms.
Through my work, I aim to create pieces that are not only visually striking, but also timeless - connecting craftsmanship with modern artistic vision.
Artist Bio
Marija Kovac is the founder of Bel Art and an internationally recognized master stained glass artist. She graduated from University of Belgrade, Serbia, and the Art School in Hannover, Germany, in 1986 - training that grounded her in the classical European tradition of architectural glass.
Her career began in Germany before returning to Belgrade, where she built a four-decade record of commercial and cultural commissions across Europe and beyond - including hotels, banks, casinos, restaurants, private residences, and public art programs in Serbia, Montenegro, Slovenia, Turkey, France, Austria, Great Britain, Ethiopia, and the United States.
She has held solo exhibitions in Belgrade, Novi Sad, Budva, Kotor, Podgorica, Addis Ababa, Chicago, Miami, and Naples. Her work is held in private collections and permanently installed in public and commercial spaces across three continents.
Now working from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Marija brings European master craftsmanship to clients across South Florida and accepts commissions worldwide.
Marija works directly with architects, interior designers, and luxury builders - providing design development, shop drawings, material specifications, and full coordination with construction teams. Every project is managed from initial concept through final installation.
Career Highlights
| MARJCC Exibition | Aventura, FL | 2026 |
| Public Art Installation in Neighborhood Clinic Park | Naples, FL | 2026 |
| Thick & Thin Restaurant | Boca Raton, FL | 2024 |
| Pinnacle Residence. Collins Av. | Miami Beach, FL | 2024 |
| UAC Exhibition | Naples, FL | 2022 |
| El Vedado Residence | Palm Beach, FL | 2021 |
| Perfume Bottle No.5 | New York, NY | 2020 |
| Hermes Bottle, Deco Dreams Gallery | Miami, FL | 2019 |
| Kakar Gallery | Miami, FL | 2016 |
| Cafe El Pibe | Belgrade, Serbia | 2015 |
| Private residence | Belgrade, Serbia | 2014 |
| Trattoria Firenze | Belgrade, Serbia | 2013 |
| Cypress Villa | Belgrade, Serbia | 2013 |
| Cafe Via Del Gusto | Belgrade, Serbia | 2012 |
| Blue Diamond Ataturk Palace Hotel | Bursa, Turkey | 2011 |
| Bar Latino | Belgrade, Serbia | 2010 |
| Hotel IN | Belgrade, Serbia | 2009 |
| Casino in Metropol Hotel | Belgrade, Serbia | 2008 |
| National Bank of Serbia | Belgrade, Serbia | 2007 |
| Caesar's Casino in Palace Hotel | Belgrade, Serbia | 2004 |
| Villa Elena, remodelling | Belgrade, Serbia | 2004 |
| Casino Alexander | Belgrade, Serbia | 2003 |
| Exhibition in Canadian Embassy | Belgrade, Serbia | 2002 |
| Sajo Hotel | Budva, Montenegro | 2001 |
| Blue Star Hotel | Budva, Montenegro | 2001 |
| Restaurant "Writer's Club" | Belgrade, Serbia | 2000 |
| Villa Alexander | Arandjelovac, Serbia | 1999 |
| Villa Elena, construction | Belgrade, Serbia | 1998 |
| Restaurant At the Corner | Belgrade, Serbia | 1998 |
| Restaurant Franchet | Belgrade, Serbia | 1997 |
| History and Cultural Center | Novi Sad, Serbia | 1995 |
| Restaurant Knez | Belgrade, Serbia | 1994 |
| DBR Company | Belgrade, Serbia | 1994 |
| Exhibition for Diplomatic Corps | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | 1992 |
| Vojvodina Bank | Novi Sad, Serbia | 1990 |
| Vojvodina Bank | Belgrade, Serbia | 1990 |
STUDIO & PROCESS
Let’s create something together
Whether you have a fully formed brief or just the beginning of an idea, we’d like to hear from you.
Begin Your Collecting Journey
Complete the inquiry form below; a dedicated art advisor will respond promptly to discuss bespoke options tailored to your vision.