Christie A. Wood has always had an affinity for drawing and a love of stained glass. Though she had a successful 20 year career in the computer industry, she found herself longing to create art. Due to the fleeting nature of computer programs, which are often obsolete the moment they are installed, Christie desired to find an outlet for her creativity which would ultimately outlast her own physical existence. The lure of stained glass; the beauty and changing nature of art from light; drew her into a new field and career.

Christie graduated from North Texas State University (now the University of North Texas) in Denton, with a degree in Music Education and an all-levels Teacher’s Certificate for the State of Texas. She studied stained glass in Eagleville, Pennsylvania with Barbara Jack of Inspirations, Inc. Shortly thereafter, she came up with a 3-year business plan to get out of the computer industry, and open up her own stained glass studio. In 1995 this became a reality with the formation of Art Glass Ensembles.

Initially, the studio specialized in stained glass gift ware for the retail market. However, the more Christie experimented with all the different ways to create art with glass, the more custom commissions came into the studio. In 2001 she and her husband moved from the Philadelphia area back to their roots in North Texas, and Art Glass Ensembles also moved and expanded. The studio grew to multiple employees, specializing in custom stained glass artwork for places of worship, offices, residential areas, and public art.

In 2022, Christie sold Art Glass Ensembles, and has “retired.” Retiring means she opened a new business called North Wind Studio, which specializes in fused and laminated glass art. She only takes commissions on projects which interest and challenge her. She also continues to design stained glass windows, and sells her artwork. Look for more advanced glass, acrylic, and sculpture experimentation from Christie in the coming years.