Mila Zila: Visual Artist and Glass Designer

Mila Zila is a visual artist and glass designer who founded her independent brand, MILA ZILA studio, in 2020. Based in Northern Bohemia, she works within a region defined by its historic glassmaking heritage, yet she brings a modern, unconventional perspective to the medium. Her creative practice is rooted in the exploration of glass as a living material that responds to light, gravity, and its surroundings. Mila Zila's collections, such as Persona and Mind, apply abstract experiences like emotions and human behavior to physical objects. The Persona collection is highlighted by hand-blown mirror wall objects and sculptural vases that prioritize purity of form and subtle asymmetries. Another significant part of her portfolio is the Persona x Photography series, which bridges photography and glassmaking by fusing images—often of street art—into hand-blown vessels to create multidimensional narratives of memory. Educated in product design at the Faculty of Architecture in Bratislava, she has expanded her expertise through residencies in New York, Dubai, and Shanghai. Her work frequently bridges the gap between functional product design and fine art, resulting in pieces that are both aesthetic and functional.