Champagne, Stardust and Steel

Wil Stutz Brings Mid-Mod Magic to Life

By Laura Henkel
Photography courtesy of Wil Stutz

She glows poolside like a dream from vintage Vegas. Her feet point skyward and her hands stretch mid-dive, her neon silhouette reflected perfectly in still water. Her name is Ruby, and she isn’t just a sculpture. She’s a love letter to Las Vegas—a tribute to the city’s glittering past, its obsession with spectacle and the quiet artistry of light in motion.

Ruby is the creation of Wil Stutz, whose work reimagines midcentury modern design through custom gates, architectural panels and, most recently, neon art. His pieces are equal parts function and fantasy, often installed in historic neighborhoods where the spirit of 1950s Las Vegas lingers just beneath the stucco and steel.

Before diving girls and glowing tubes, he was a Gemological Institute of America (GIA) graduate gemologist/jeweler, trained to appreciate the finite and the flawless. In 2020, his artistic trajectory took a creative turn when he designed a set of walnut and birch coasters inspired by vintage breeze block patterns.

“It started as a proof of concept using CAD and CNC tools,” he said. “I couldn’t find ironwork that truly excited me, so I decided to make my own.”

That experiment led to the purchase of a large-scale plasma cutter and an entirely new direction. Each design now begins with CAD renderings. The final form is shaped using CNC plasma cutting technology—where precision engineering meets midcentury elegance.

What began as a project for his own home quickly gained traction after he shared a few designs on Instagram. Requests began pouring in, most of them for custom gates that combined functionality with strong visual impact.

“A lot of clients come to me with older gates that are worn out or no longer secure. But they also want something that elevates the aesthetic of their property, especially if they’re restoring a classic home or refreshing their landscaping,” he said.

His gates are anything but ordinary. From bold black grids that echo the geometry of desert modernism to playful powder-coated turquoise panels filled with cutouts of bubbles and stars, each design feels like a personal statement. His signature pattern, “Champagne and Stardust,” draws directly from Las Vegas history.

“I was picturing vintage showrooms, champagne flowing, showgirls glittering and the Stardust sign glowing in the background.”

Ruby captures that vision best. When Wil and his wife, Amy, were designing their pool, he knew it needed a neon diving girl.

“I’ve been collecting vintage neon for years. There’s just something emotional about it. The glow, the energy—it’s the spirit of this city.”

Amy sketched Ruby on an iPad, channeling the silhouette of classic motel signage with elegance and whimsy. The moment Wil saw it, he knew it was the one. Ruby made her debut at the Nevada Preservation Foundation’s annual luau, which the couple hosted as part of the foundation’s signature Home + History Tour, complete with synchronized swimmers and vintage flair.

To mark the occasion, they created 125 mini, non-neon Ruby sculptures as exclusive gifts for attendees. Alongside Ruby, guests also got a first look at Wil’s “Aloha Motel” sign. The custom neon piece was paired with a restored flashing arrow originally built in 1968, reinforcing his commitment to honoring the material legacy of midcentury Las Vegas. Unsurprisingly, the collectible Ruby figures were gone in a flash.

Since then, Ruby has inspired custom commissions for full-scale neon versions. Wil is already developing new designs, including more diving girls and other glowing creations that channel the kinetic grace and character of classic signage.

“There’s more glowing goodness on the way,” he said.

Whether it’s a sculptural gate that casts patterned shadows across a desert driveway or a neon siren lighting up the night, his work reminds us that midcentury design is far from frozen in time. It’s alive, expressive and filled with soul.

In a city built on reinvention, Wil isn’t just preserving the past. He’s helping it shine again.

To see more of his custom work or commission a glowing creation of your own, visit www.stutzdesigns.com and follow him on Instagram at @midmodmakers. It’s a feed filled with sparkle, structure and a whole lot of style.