Raised in a world of stained glass and fine art, Peter Lupkin was surrounded by creativity from an early age. His father’s work and connections in the art community exposed him to a broad range of artistic disciplines, from plein air painting to traditional glass craftsmanship. His first hands-on experience with stained glass began in high school, working after school and during summers at the family studio. Following a traditional apprenticeship approach, Peter learned the craft from the ground up — starting with foundational tasks and progressing to the fine artistry of glass design, painting and restoration.
While stained glass has always been a part of his life, Peter also pursued his passion for oil painting, earning a BFA in traditional figurative painting from IPFW on a full scholarship. This experience has allowed him to add an additional skill set to the arts practiced at William L. Lupkin Designs, large scale murals and oil paintings for sacred and secular spaces. As an artist and craftsman at William L. Lupkin Desgins, Peter additionally takes great pride in faithfully restoring missing or damaged elements of antique stained glass, bringing historic works back to their original beauty.
Over the years, Peter has worked on numerous large-scale projects through the studio, but two that stand out as exceptional would be the ability to work on the restoration of St. Peter and Paul’s windows in Huntington, IN and the complete remodel of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Fort Wayne IN. At St. Peter and Paul’s, Peter was able to appreciate and restore windows created in Austria in the 1890’s, while with St. Elizabeth Ann Seton he was able to work with his family in creating an entire artistic scheme for the windows and murals in a project spanning over 2 years.
Looking to the future, Peter envisions William L. Lupkin Designs expanding its reach while remaining rooted in its stained glass heritage. As each generation brings new skills and techniques to the studio, the business continues to grow, offering an ever-expanding array of artistic services.
“When a piece leaves the studio signed ‘Lupkin,’ it represents not just my work, but my father’s legacy,” he said. “And hopefully, the generations that come after me.”
Beyond stained glass, Peter is an accomplished painter with artwork displayed in galleries and exhibitions across the United States and Europe. He is also an avid traveler, exploring art and architecture throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia — capturing sketches and inspiration from every destination.
If given the opportunity to design a dream project without limitations, Peter would create an entire artistic space where every element — stained glass, murals, architecture, and fine details — worked in harmony to create an immersive masterpiece.
