An abundance of A.E. Backus Museum enthusiasts were treated to a wonderful Members Opening Reception featuring “Glory in Glass- The Conrad Pickel Studio” on Friday, December 5th, 2025 in Ft. Pierce, Florida.
Hundreds of guests got the opportunity to gain valuable insights into the work and inner workings of the stained glass exhibit that featured a terrific selection of works by this famed studio. The A.E. Backus Museum description of this Exhibit: Since 1947, the Conrad Pickel Studio has contributed a dazzling fusion of old world craftsmanship and new world innovation to the resplendent and enduring traditions of stained glass. Created from the finest handblown antique glass, their leaded stained glass windows for religious, secular, and public projects throughout North America embody the art and science of light. This new exhibition of luminous studio work presents examples of process and pièces de résistance, and highlights a shining artistic treasure of the region.
During the formal presentation ceremony A.E. Backus Museum’s Executive Director, J. Marshall Adams, did a very astute job of describing the exhibit’s inspiration including how the idea came to pass, before introducing Paul Pickel, President of Conrad Pickel Studio, Inc., who offered some of his company’s history, and then described various aspects of how this unique collaborative process took place with the museum.
“The Treasure Coast has been a creative epicenter of activity for generations…and one of the really interesting pieces of that story here is an amazing nationally known studio of stained glass artists that has been here since the mid-1950’s,” Adams explained. Newspaper articles from that era led Marshall to ascertain that A.E. Backus & Conrad Pickel were guest judges together for a Vero Beach Art Show as artists of significance. No one knows if they were pals, but they certainly knew each other.
This fact led Marshall to ask Paul Pickel, the current President of Pickel Studio, if an exhibit might be a possibility at A.E. Backus Museum? He explained there were lots of challenges with this effort in that stained glass is usually very site specific to their finished locations. Adams was truly pleased and grateful for Paul’s collaborative spirit, and their entire studio team’s willingness to open their doors and their workshops to the museum’s team of collaborators to see how all of these treasures could be displayed in the best possible light.
Paul Pickel described how his father, Conrad Pickel, who had attended the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich, Germany, and then learned the art of stained glass at the esteemed Mayer Studio where he apprenticed. Conrad emigrated to the United States in 1927 and perfected his skills initially in Columbus, Ohio where he met the woman who would become his wife, and her father was also in the stained glass business. Then, Conrad worked in Pittsburgh, Boston, Los Angeles, and, they ended up in Milwaukee where he began Conrad Pickel Studio in 1947.
Conrad Pickel established a branch studio in Vero Beach in 1955. Paul Pickel moved the entire operation to Vero Beach in 1975. Paul is also a Past President of the Stained Glass Association of America.
Georgina “George” Love made initial visits to Conrad Pickel Studio in Vero Beach and discovered the various treasures that she felt could make this exhibition something special. Since George was scheduled to compete in the World Championships of Fencing for the USA, Sean Clinton’s services were utilized to help finish the various looks and displays once George had to leave to travel overseas and compete- where she won a Gold Medal for the United States of America! Sean did an excellent job in finishing this project as he worked with Pickel’s team and helped create the finished displays as you can see them in the museum.
The exhibit will continue to be presented at the A.E. Backus Museum through Sunday, January 4th, 2026. Check out the hours of operation at www.BackusMuseum.org and be sure to visit “Glory in Glass- The Conrad Pickel Studio” while you have this opportunity. The address of the museum is 500 North Indian River Drive, Fort Pierce, Florida 34950.
9339 North U.S. Highway One, Sebastian, Florida, 32958
(772)-538-3923 Fax: (772)-589-6824 Fred’s E-mail: [email protected]
