Julie Lesová

Kolodium Glass Director, Mentor for Glass Casting and Cold Working

Julie Lesová is a Prague-based glass artist and founder of Kolodiumglass. Trained at the Secondary School of Glassmaking in Kamenický Šenov, she has professional experience in glass cutting, kiln-cast sculpture, restoration, and wet collodion photography. Alongside commissions, including work exhibited at the Venice Biennale (2023) and kiln-cast crosses presented to Pope Francis on behalf of the Czech Ambassador to the Holy See (2025), she pursues her own artistic practice, exhibiting kiln-cast objects and experimental work combining photography with glass.

Education

College of Fashion Design and Secondary Technical School of Fashion, Prague, Scenography and Exhibition Design

Secondary School of Glassmaking, Kamenický Šenov, Cold working studio

Professional experience

Preciosa Lighting, glass cutter. Grinding and polishing components for glass chandeliers (2017).

Glassworks Douša & Syn, technical assistant. Grinding and polishing historical glassware, assisting in the hot shop (2018).

Pavel Baxa studio, technical assistant. Assistance with art commissions: kiln-cast glass, slumped glass, fused glass (2018 to 2019).

Martin Böhm, art restorer. Restoration project at the National Museum of the Czech Republic (2019).

Artistic Restoration Society Brandl, art restorer. Part of the complex restoration of the baroque Osek Monastery: restoration of sculptures and artificial marble (2020).

Independent work

Co-founded and ran a wet collodion photographic studio "Nasklo" with Jan Hedrlín (2016 to 2022).

Established a small independent studio in Prague focused on glass cutting and cold work (2022).

Moved to larger premises in Malešice, purchased the first kiln, and extended the practice to include kiln-cast glass (2023).

Founded the Kolodiumglass association and further expanded the studio (2024).

Launched the Kolodiumglass residency programme (2025).

Notable art commissions

Jiří Dokoupil (Czech painter and graphic artist), slumped-glass project consisting of glass bubbles, exhibited at the Venice Biennale (2023).

Pavel Svoboda (Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the Holy See), set of two kiln-cast crosses, presented as gifts to Pope Francis and the Cardinal Secretary of State of Vatican City (2025).

Lukáš Novák (Czech glass designer), kiln-cast sculpture (2026).

Exhibitions

Sztvrzenka (2025), selection of kiln-cast objects. Šumburg Castle, Klášterec nad Ohří.

Lenora (2026), exhibition of six photographs fused in glass panels, a kiln-cast object, and a set of fused-glass objects narrating a story about the defunct glassworks in Lenora. Galerie Fotografic, Prague.

Teaching and mentorship

Since launching the Kolodiumglass residency programme in 2025, Julie has mentored six artists from five countries: Czech Republic, Australia, United Kingdom, Ireland, and Poland, guiding them through the complete glass casting process from first model to finished sculpture.