Partners in Preservation
Nzilani Glass Conservation is and award-winning firm and one of the few companies in the United States qualified to create new or preserve historical glass works. We specialize in architectural art glass providing safe, museum-quality services for private residences, historic buildings, and museums.
Collaborating with high-end metal and woodworkers, engineers, and general contractors to solve unique problems; our creative solutions pair “old-school” fabrication with modern techniques.
Nzilani’s core values are “Be Safe. Have Fun. Do Excellent Work.” We lead the industry in best practices for protection from lead exposure - being aware of your environment frees you to do your best work and have fun while doing it.
We are dedicated to making our profession more equitable by being accessible to underserved communities; challenging the notion of who is qualified to work in our profession and what projects deserve preservation.
The company’s founder, Ariana Makau, is the second person in the world – and the first woman – to receive a Master’s Degree in Stained Glass Conservation from the Royal College of Art in London. Equally comfortable on a job site, at a board meeting or in a museum, Makau has over 25 years of experience with art and architectural preservation. She was previously a Board Member and Health and Safety Chair of the Stained Glass Association of America, is currently on the Board of the Western Chapter of the Association of Preservation Technology and a Fellow of AIC. Before Nzilani, she worked at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, London’s V&A Museum, and the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Ariana’s work is most fulfilling when at the intersection of equity, preservation and art.
Makau’s presentations at national conferences bridge the gap between health & safety regulators and those involved in stained-glass. Approachable and non-judgmental, Ariana enjoys sharing her professional experience in classroom and public talks. She is currently the Interim Collections C.A.R.E. Director of Destination Crenshaw where she highlights the importance of preserving cultural landscapes within the environment.
Health & Safety Trailblazers
Working with stained glass requires following strict protocols regarding environmental safety, the proper handling of hazardous materials such as lead and asbestos, and a profound knowledge of structural integrity during fabrication. As the recognized leader in the field, we adhere to the most current Cal/OSHA Health & Safety standards throughout all processes. It is a cornerstone at Nzilani and our highest priority to maintain the health and safety of our employees, clients, contractors and all those who come in contact with the windows. This includes but is not exhaustive of: material testing to identify hazards, sealing off of active work areas and work therein by certified contractors, and use of proper personal protection (PPE’s) by our team.
Meet “Team Nzi”
The diverse Nzilani crew includes artists, craftspeople and conservators with expertise in glass painting, intricate glazing techniques and structural stabilization. We come from a variety of backgrounds, but are unified in our goal to preserve and create art that will last more than a lifetime.
Nzilani includes under-served Oakland youth in its success by opening the studio for tours and paid internships.
The Nzilani name
Tabitha Nzilani Makau (Ariana’s grandmother) raised 11 children in rural Kenya. She never traveled outside her native country and lived close to 103 years old. While dozens of relatives have the “Makau” name, only she had a company named after her. Traditionally the Akamba give a child one name when they are born, and a second when they “anneal” later on in life (a glass word that means “set” or “settle”). Ariana’s Kenyan father named her “Nzilani” (zee-LAH-knee) on the day she received her Masters Degree in stained glass conservation from the Royal College of Art in London. She thought it only fitting to name her company Nzilani.
Qualifications
Clients*
Collaborations with museums in the U.S. and abroad…
J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, CA
SF MoMA, San Francisco, CA
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, CA
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University, Stanford, CA
The Victoria & Albert Museum, London, UK
Historic Buildings
Grace Cathedral; San Francisco, CA
Olympic Club; San Francisco, CA
Winchester Mystery House; San Jose, CA
Government Projects
Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park; Coloma, CA
Pt. Reyes Lighthouse; Pt. Reyes, CA
Guest House Museum; Ft. Bragg, CA
City of San Francisco - 555 Battery St., U.S. Customs House
City of Santa Clara - multiple historic buildings
City of San Leandro - Alta Mira Club
*Partial list
Standards
National Historic Preservation Act of 1966
AIC Code of Ethics
The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties
EPA Lead Safe Certified Firm
Certified Lead & Asbestos Workers
CA Licensed & Bonded Contractor
Organizations & Memberships
American Institute for Conservation (AIC)
Fellow
National Presenter
Association for Preservation Technology International
Board Member of Western Chapter of APT, current
National Presenter
National Trust for Historic Preservation
Member
National Fund for Sacred Places
Advisory Committee Member
Stained Glass Association of America (SGAA)
Accredited Professional Member
Board Member, 2017-2023
Health & Safety Chair, 2017-2023
National Presenter
California Preservation Foundation
Bay Area Art Conservation Guild (BAACG)
Former Board Member
Artistic License
Ready to get started?
We’ll prepare your proposal and walk you through every step of the process.