Stella Chang: Turning Pain Into Art – How Creativity Becomes a Force for Healing
Some artists create for beauty.
Others create because they have to.
For Stella Chang, art isn’t just self-expression—it’s survival. Diagnosed with lupus and secondary Sjögren’s syndrome in 2023, she refused to let chronic illness define her. Instead, she transformed it into a driving force for creativity and healing.
Where others might see limitation, Stella sees inspiration—using paint, sculpture, and digital media to express the complexities of resilience. Through each brushstroke, she reclaims her identity, challenging the idea that illness weakens the self. Instead, she proves that struggle can be a catalyst for transformation.
With representation from Rosenstiels (London) and Art.com (USA), and as Chair of the Junior & Scholarship Committee at the Salmagundi Art Club, Stella’s impact extends beyond her own canvas. She is redefining art as a tool for both personal and collective healing.
Art as a Lifeline: Creating Through Illness
Lupus is an invisible battle—one that drains energy, causes chronic pain, and turns daily life into a balancing act. Stella knows this fight well. Instead of letting it consume her, she channels it into art, proving that self-expression is more than therapy—it’s power.
Her self-portraits are raw, unfiltered reflections of her journey. They don’t hide the struggle; they highlight it, making space for both vulnerability and strength.
Her mixed-media works embrace imperfection, mirroring the unpredictability of illness. Inspired by Kintsugi—the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold—Stella’s approach reframes damage as beauty.
Her art fosters connection. It speaks to those navigating chronic illness, grief, mental health struggles, and personal reinvention. Her work says: You are not alone. Your pain has a place here.
The Science of Art & Healing
Stella’s story is deeply personal, but the connection between art and healing is universal. Science backs up what artists have known for centuries—art has the power to reduce pain and improve well-being.
Studies show that engaging in visual arts can significantly lower pain perception by shifting mental focus, teaching relaxation techniques, and improving mood. (Harvard Health)
A 2023 study published on MedRxiv found that patients with chronic pain who engaged in artistic activities experienced statistically significant improvements in both pain levels and psychological well-being. (MedRxiv)
Creating art stimulates the release of dopamine, the brain’s natural feel-good chemical, helping to combat depression and anxiety—common struggles for those with chronic illnesses.
For Stella, art is both rebellion and refuge. It’s a way to reclaim control in a body that often feels uncontrollable.
The Healing Power of Creation
In a world obsessed with hustle culture and the pressure to perform, Stella’s journey flips the narrative. She proves that healing isn’t about erasing the scars—it’s about honoring them.
Creativity isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity.
You don’t have to wait to be “better” to make something meaningful.
Your story—raw, messy, and unfiltered—is already enough.
For Millennials and Gen Z—generations navigating burnout, mental health struggles, and an overwhelming pressure to “push through”—Stella’s journey offers a radical perspective: Slowing down isn’t failure. Expressing pain isn’t weakness. Art isn’t just for galleries—it’s for survival.
Building a Legacy of Healing Through Art
Art has always been more than just self-expression—it is a language of resilience, a tool for introspection, and a bridge between personal struggle and universal connection. The creative process has the power to validate experiences, process emotions, and transform pain into something tangible, offering both artist and audience a space for reflection and healing.
In a world obsessed with perfection, art reminds us that imperfection is part of the story. It challenges the way we perceive strength, beauty, and vulnerability, proving that what is broken can still hold meaning, and what is lost can give way to something new.
At its core, healing through art is not about the final piece—it’s about the act of creation itself. It’s about giving shape to what words cannot express, making space for what society often overlooks, and reclaiming agency over one’s own narrative.
Art doesn’t just exist to be admired—it exists to heal, to challenge, and to inspire.
STELLA CHANGE
A New York-based Taiwanese-American multimedia artist whose work explores resilience, healing, and transformation through painting, sculpture, and digital media. With a background in fashion design, she was recognized by Anna Wintour in 2012 before returning to fine art, using creativity as a force for self-expression and empowerment. Diagnosed with lupus and secondary Sjögren’s syndrome in 2023, she embraced imperfection as central to her artistic philosophy, turning pain into purpose. Her work is represented by Rosenstiels (London) and Art.com (USA), and she serves as Chair of the Junior & Scholarship Committee at the Salmagundi Art Club, advocating for emerging artists and inclusive creative spaces. Contact Stella
Website & Portfolio: ArtByStellaChang.com
Shop & Exclusive Prints: Browse her digital catalog
📷 Instagram: @ArtByStellaChang
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