Meet Stella Djuric | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Stella Djuric and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Stella, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
My favorite quote is, “The lust for comfort murders the passions of the soul.” I firmly believe that holding onto our comfort zone can be quite a dangerous space to remain as it reaffirms a stagnant energy. While it may provide a sense of security, it has the ability to simultaneously stifle our potential for pursuing our true passions. This resonates deeply with me because I spent a significant portion of my 20s confined within my comfort zone and settling for a mediocre lifestyle. Despite knowing that I aspired to become an artist, societal and cultural expectations as a second-generation Korean discouraged such aspirations.   I remember when I was 19, I was presented with the opportunity for a tattoo apprenticeship, but I declined due to my fear of instability.  At the time, I didn’t think that opportunity meshed well with the expectations the world had set for me. So instead of pursuing my passion, I dedicated the next decade of my life to a corporate job. Honestly, I truly believed that the birth of my second child  gave me the courage I needed to break out of the stagnant energy I had become accustomed to in order to strive for better.  I just knew something had to change! Therefore, I made the decision to step out of my comfort zone and pursue tattooing, an artform that I truly love. Balancing motherhood with an apprenticeship was incredibly challenging—financial struggles and persistent guilt over not spending enough time with my children weighed heavily on me. The journey hasn’t been the easiest and it took quite some time…let’s say about four years into my tattooing journey to truly feel that I had achieved stability.  At that time I confronted and overcame all my initial fears of departing from a stable corporate job with the guaranteed benefits and income. As I sit here and reflect back on my tattooing journey, I’m grateful I pushed myself beyond my comfort zone for the sake of my aspirations.  In short, living a routined life is not good for the soul and I encourage everyone to think big and reach for the stars.  Don’t let anyone outside of yourself stop you!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a versatile artist who finds joy in creating art through a range of mediums, from origami to macrame, and I aspire to explore various genres of art in the future. Currently, tattooing is my primary source of income, and I am approaching my 7th year in this profession. I am passionate about crafting custom artwork that becomes a permanent part of my clients’ lives. Traveling extensively for work allows me to connect with a diverse array of individuals from different backgrounds, an experience I truly cherish.

Tattooing demands complete mental and physical dedication, making it a time-consuming and sometimes draining endeavor. Balancing the demands of motherhood with my career in tattooing poses one of my greatest challenges. As a single mom, I am grateful for the flexibility to set my own schedule and bring my children to work. While I value the freedom this career provides, I often wish for more time to offer my children my undivided attention.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
As a proud Chicago native I would start by giving them a tour of Pilsen where I currently live. Pilsen is an up and coming art district and there are beautiful extended blocks of murals from local artists on 16th. Pilsen is also known for some of the best Mexican food so i would take them to Rubi’s for some of the best tacos that was actually featured on a Netflix series. Soulfull Cafe is a book store / cafe which is a must visit destination known for their beautiful decor and amazing vibes.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to dedicate this portion of my story to my business partner and life partner, Hiram “Shogun” Harris, who has played a crucial role in the success of my career. Despite enduring numerous hardships, he graciously took me on as an apprentice and guided me through some of my most challenging transitions. Hiram has been instrumental in opening doors of opportunity for me, from my humble beginnings at 9 Mag with limited experience, to assisting with television exposure, and now the exciting prospect of opening our own shop here in Chicago.

I am deeply grateful to Hiram for investing so much of himself in me during a time when I had little to offer, all for the betterment of my career.

Website: www.Pilsentattoo.com

Instagram: @1stellz

Other: http://spot.fund/9qfhzsc