Dear Heart is the stained glass practice of Toronto-based artist and design consultant, Katie Kohls. 

Dear Heart began as an evolving project that explores the intersection of art + interior design; the liminal space between the functionality of everyday items and the rough-hewn beauty and uniqueness of the handcrafted. Dear Heart evokes the timelessness of an heirloom with a sense of contemporary design. Every creation is hand cut and crafted, drawing from a concise vocabulary of form and colour that manages to yoke ephemerality and feeling to the tactile nature of a physical object.

Every mirror is hand drawn and cut, inspired by pebbles at the beach. Washed up on shore, shapes amorphous and organic, adorned on the mirror like jewelry. Each process is meticulously done by hand. Mirrors are soldered with thick, Brutalist style solder seams and finished with a patina that has a look of lived-sterling silver jewelry. The backs are finished in felt and signed inset mdf, complete with an aluminum French cleat hook. 

Katie's works can be seen in the permanent collection of Grape Witches, and in the home of various art and design lovers — pictured here.