Collection: Stella Jurgen, visual artist

Stella Jurgen was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina to Portuguese and Italian parents. Her natural artistic talents flourished in the fields of music and arts since childhood. In addition to her successful musical career in Portugal as a teen pop artist with her sister in the duo "Stella & Marcela", she always had a passion for the arts. Stella had a brief introduction to Fine Arts in Lisbon before emigrating to Canada and graduating in Commercial Design at George Brown College in Toronto.

She is the founder and creative director of 17 Designs, a graphic design, website and marketing company now celebrating 20 years in business. Winner of the Mississauga Business Center Emerging Business Award in 2001, 17 Designs serves a variety of industries located in the GTA, Peel and Halton. Stella held her first solo exhibition titled “Ser Mujer” in 2015 at the Alberto Castro Gallery to benefit the Centro Abrigo for women, children and victims of domestic violence. In 2017 she produced a collaborative exhibition titled "Reflections" held at the Consulate General of Portugal in Toronto: 50% of the proceeds were donated to the Centro Abrigo. In 2017, he was commissioned by Pianosi Development Corporation to paint a fine art collection of six 4' x 6' paintings and design five stainless steel sculptural signs for Perspective Condominiums located in Etobicoke titled "Natural Perspective."

She is also a clothing designer and producer of clothing items, including handbags that were displayed at the "Circle of Friends" breast cancer fundraising fashion show benefiting The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation in January 2018. The art by Stella was published in “Art Bites” book produced by Arts on the Credit in 2018 and exhibited at Artworld Fine Arts Gallery. Third prize winner of the “Walk with Art” competition for bags and shoes produced in Viseu, Portugal two years in a row Stella was nominated for the prestigious Waterfront Awards in the Arts and Culture category celebrating outstanding women in 2018.

Her solo exhibition "Kissed" was organized by The Peach Gallery in Toronto in 2018. At this event, Stella presented a collection of paintings, illustrations and for the first time exhibited her work on textiles. A percentage of the proceeds were donated to the Abrigo Center. Her talent and devotion to the arts landed her on the cover of “Amar” magazine in the October 2018 issue and extensive coverage of the event was shown on Camoes TV and CHIN Radio. Stella was the featured artist of the television program "Gente da Nossa" to celebrate Women's Day. The interview aired on City TV on March 9, 2019. "For the Love" was her solo exhibition organized by Engel & Völkers Oakville dedicated to Valentine's Day: 40% of the proceeds were donated to the Special Olympics .

Her latest exhibition, “Color Me,” was held at the Pazan Gallery in Port Credit, Mississauga, and she featured works created during the pandemic. She participated on the Fashion Circuit Series 2021 runway with a collection of ten dresses and accessories made by her with her own artwork and design. She appeared in the December 2021 issue of Fashion & Biz magazine.