Art By Stella Chang

06/11/2026

I never heard of Safe Horizon until last night, when one of my paintings was selected by Visionary Art Collective to be part of their Art For Advocacy exhibition at The People’s Forum.

I never had to run from an abuser in my life, but I did have to untangle myself from years of emotional scapegoating and a slow erosion of self that left me with PTSD, dissociation, and sleep problems. Sometimes I even wonder how much of my lupus is also an expression of decades of emotional pain.

So I understand, but not really. I was shocked to learn that each year Safe Horizon helps around 250,000 New Yorkers—men, women, and children—find safe shelter and rebuild their lives. I also didn’t know that some abusers destroy a victim’s ID documents, put the pieces in a little bag, and taunt them with it so they can’t leave. I guess I have been sheltered in many ways.

It was very moving to hear the guest speaker, Celines, share her story and how Safe Horizon helped her find her footing again. As she was speaking, I kept thinking about my mother-in-law, who faced a traumatizing challenge when my husband & his two brothers were all less than 10-years-old. If she had known about something like this, maybe she could have been just as empowered to pursue her own dreams, as Celines is doing, instead of sacrificing just to survive.

Through my own journey with lupus, I learned that art is not just something pretty on the wall. It can carry a message that opens up a whole conversation. It can shine a light on things society often ignores and give voice to people who are voiceless.
Nights like this remind me why I do what I do.

Alongside works by 20 other artists, my painting, Through The Looking Glass – Reverie, is part of the exhibition. In it, I painted children using imagination as a survival strategy. Fifteen percent of the sale will be donated to Safe Horizon.

If you have a chance, please contact Safe Horizon or stop by The People’s Forum and see the exhibition, and purchase can be made here:
https://www.artbystellachang.com/products/throughthelookingglass-reverie
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05/26/2026

This Thursday, we open Bold Strokes exhibition, and I could not be more proud.

From 155 submitted artworks, guest juried and curated 40+ works onto the walls of the Rockwell Gallery . That process was not easy. Every piece earned its place.

Come celebrate with us and see 6 remarkable award winners alongside emerging young talent from across the tri-state area. This is just the beginning of their careers, and you get to witness it firsthand.

📅 Thursday, May 28 | 6–8pm
📍 Salmagundi Club, Rockwell Gallery
🎨 Curated and juried by
Open to the public. Free to attend.

It truly takes a whole village to uplift an artist, and none of this would have been possible without the dedication of and the curatorial vision of . As my final show as Chair of the Junior and Scholarship Committee, I am deeply grateful to everyone who believed in these artists alongside me. This one means everything.
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ImurGallery YoungArtists ArtOpening TriStateArtists NextGeneration

05/22/2026

What began as broken glass in my studio slowly transformed into an immersive installation at in Jersey City. This journey was never something I could have done alone. It truly takes a village to raise an artist, and I’m endlessly grateful to every friend, artist, curator, filmmaker, supporter, and organization who helped carry this vision into reality.

Thank you to everyone who lifted me up, believed in the work, shared their time, opened doors, moved glass, filmed moments, and held space for this project to grow.

From the studio floor to the gallery walls, this installation belongs to all of us. ❤️

Special thanks to IMUR Gallery, , IN 7 Experimental Video Residency, and the beautiful creative communities of Jersey City.
All art is available for purchase, [email protected], exhibition catalogue: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-BGY6a6ydsuPF85F7DGu0vEbJ-AogBKF/view?usp=drive_link
Credits:
Director: Matthew Ramirez
Sofia Carrasco Iglesias - Saxophone, Composition. Misti Music & Education

05/11/2026

Everyone’s posting picture of their moms, I’m posting my grandmas. They each raised me from age 0 - 11, can you imagine the shenanigans they had to deal with! Only one is still with me and it’s not easy. Happy grandma day!

05/10/2026

Well… this happened ✨

I had the absolute honor of being featured on News 12 New Jersey with the incredible Della Crews, where I got to talk about Fractured Reflections installation, living with lupus, breaking glass on purpose (yes really), rebuilding it again, and why I continue making art that sits somewhere between healing and controlled chaos.

This interview means a lot because it allowed me to speak openly about the deeper reason behind the work, not just the final images on the wall.

Huge thank you to Della Crews and News12 for creating space for artists to tell stories that are messy, vulnerable, and human.

You can watch the segment here in 6 short videos:

Stella Chang joined News 12’s Della Crews to discuss her career and present some of her work.

05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers living with lupus. Yes, today not only is Mother’s Day but also Lupus Awareness day. 
Nearly 90% of lupus sufferers are women according to , many of whom are mothers who continue to love, nurture, work, and care for others while carrying relentless pain inside their own bodies. There is a quiet strength in that reality that often goes unseen.
I also want to thank everyone who came out to visit Fractured Reflections yesterday. The rain certainly didn’t make it easy, so for those who showed up and spent time with the work, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
This entire collection was inspired by my own struggle with lupus: the flare-ups, the long recoveries, the moments of returning to “normal,” while living with the constant vigilance of wondering when the next flare will come.
At some point, though, something changes. You begin to realize how strong you actually are, like the broken glass and the cracks, yeah, they are there but you figure out a way to carry it forward. You begin to understand that even within illness, you still have a choice in how you relate to your body, your pain, and your life.
Fractured Reflections was born from that realization. Not from perfection or victory, but from learning how to rebuild, again and again, while still remaining whole. 🤍
Exhibition through May 22nd at , 67 Greene Street Jersey City NJ
I’ll be there in person on May 15-16 then 21st from 3-7pm. Come say hi.
Photos
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05/09/2026

And here’s the teaser of my upcoming spotlight on News 12 New Jersey hosted by the amazing Della Crews!! Omg! Stay tuned for more!

05/09/2026

Are you ready???? Today at IMUR Gallery, 3-7pm.
Hope to see you at the reception!
67 Greene St. Jersey City NJ.

Fracture Reflections Interactive Art Installation.
Funded by Jersey City Arts Council individual Artist Fellowship.

Through May 22nd and I’ll be there in person on May 15-16 and 21 during Gallery Hour.
www.imurart.com
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05/08/2026

All done!

Fractured Reflections opens at
May 9, 3–7 PM
67 Greene Street, Jersey City
Show runs through May 22nd and I’ll be there in person on May 15-16 then May 21.
www.imurart.com

Come experience 16 glass portraits and a single interactive glass grimoire. The grimoire is the only piece in the show meant to be touched and felt, inviting viewers to place themselves within its pages and reflect on their own story.
Would love to see you there.
Project is funded by Individual Artist Fellowship from

05/07/2026

Guys...I’ve been keeping a secret!
Yesterday, I was at News 12 New Jersey filming for Della Crews Spotlight segment! We talked about so many things: my art practice, lupus awareness, and my upcoming Fractured Reflections installation at IMUR Gallery in Jersey City this weekend. Opening Reception: May 9, 3–7 PM 67 Greene Street, Jersey City.

We also talked about the tremendous support I've been receiving from Jersey City and Newark arts communities such as Newark Arts and Jersey City Arts Council. Where I’m heading next as an artist, and so much more.

Della is such an amazing host, warm, thoughtful, and incredibly professional. I was definitely nervous at first, but she made the conversation feel so natural that we ended up laughing and joking through most of it. Honestly, I only became self conscious whenever the camera zoomed in on me 😅
Spotlight airs May 11–12 on News 12 New Jersey
6–9 AM and 12 PM
Hope you tune in!
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