Unveiling the California Individual Transforming Torched Rubber into Artwork

Artist Transforms Torched Porsche into Stained Glass Masterpiece

In the heart of Los Angeles, Ben Tuna, a second-generation stained-glass artist, is creating a unique art project that combines his passion for cars with his family's centuries-old tradition of handcrafted stained glass. This extraordinary piece, titled "Resurrection" (2025), transforms a rusted, corroded Porsche 911 into a breathtaking stained glass sculpture [1][2].

Glass Visions Studio, founded by Ben’s father Mark Tuna in 1979, is renowned for custom decorative stained glass. Ben took over the studio in 2021, continuing the family legacy and applying his expertise to new media, such as cars [1]. "Resurrection" reflects his interest in sacred art and automotive culture, employing 100-year-old church glass to fit the Porsche’s windows and windshields, producing a cathedral-on-wheels effect [2][4].

The original vehicle was a rusted, wheel-less, and stripped Porsche 911 Carrera chassis. Ben Tuna meticulously fitted stained glass panels into the car’s windows and front and rear windshields, framing them in metal to replicate cathedral aesthetics [1][2][4]. The color palette was chosen to harmonize with the white body of the car; the stained glass includes angelic and spiritual motifs consistent with ecclesiastical art traditions [1][2][4].

This work is a personal project for Tuna, not a commission, emphasizing restoration and repurposing found materials and vintage stained glass pieces [2]. Although the price of the materials for Tuna's work can be prohibitive, with a single crumbling church window costing $5,000 to $250,000 or more, the artist's dedication to his craft is evident in the intricate details of his work [1].

Tuna often cuts his hands while working with glass, and the greater pain comes from losing fragile work. Despite the risks, Tuna's passion for his craft remains unwavering [1]. The hand of a saint reaches heavenward through golden fleur-de-lis and dark roundels in the Porsche 356, a car torched in the Los Angeles fires, which is being transformed into an art piece by Ben Tuna [1].

As of mid-2025, "Resurrection" is currently a one-off art piece housed in the artist’s workshop in Los Angeles [1][2]. Though there is no public exhibition announced or schedule disclosed, the piece has received attention on social media platforms, including Instagram posts and reels by Ben Tuna showcasing the work [3][5]. For collectors or car enthusiasts interested in similar commissions for rusted vehicles, Glass Visions Studio accepts inquiries, but pricing and timelines are case-specific [2].

The unveiling of the Porsche 356 to the public will occur at a later date. The Porsche 356, to be unveiled to the public at a later date, is the first of at least four LA fire cars Tuna will recast as art pieces to sell [1]. The Porsche 356 will be displayed publicly for the first time at the Motorluxe gala Aug. 13, during Monterey Car Week in Carmel, California [1].

In summary, Ben Tuna’s "Resurrection" Porsche art project is a fusion of vintage stained glass craftsmanship and classic automotive form, reclaiming a corroded Porsche 911 as a vibrant stained glass sculpture. While not yet exhibited publicly beyond digital platforms, this work highlights an innovative intersection of sacred art and car restoration culture rooted in a family legacy.

Ben Tuna, an entrepreneur in the field of finance, is using his expertise in small business management to lead the revitalization of Glass Visions Studio, a renowned business in the realm of fashion-and-beauty, specializing in handcrafted stained glass.
The studio's latest project, titled "Resurrection (2025)", demonstrates Tuna's interest in both sacred art and lifestyle, transforming a small-business investment, a rusted Porsche 911, into a captivating work of art, embodying the spirit of car-maintenance and electric-vehicles.
With a focus on restoration and repurposing, Tuna's unique approach to business careers finds him utilizing hundred-year-old church glass to revive the Porsche’s windows and windshields, creating a fascinating blend of automotive heritage and ancient aesthetics.
Tuna's dedication to the field of entrepreneurship is evident in his passion for this personal project, as his meticulous work can sometimes lead to injuries, such as cuts from the delicate glass.
As the price of the materials for Tuna's car-maintenance project can be substantial, with a single vintage church window costing a considerable sum, the value of his work lies not only in monetary terms but also in its unique blend of art, history, and the culture of electric-vehicles.