Muse of the Month – May 2025: Stefanie Bales 🎨

As May unfolds with sunshine, blooms, and celebration, we're shining a light on a woman who embodies both creative fire and motherly grace. In honor of Mother’s Day, it feels especially fitting to spotlight a Muse who is not only a powerful visual storyteller, but also a devoted mother raising two future works of art.

This month, we’re thrilled to introduce Stefanie Bales—a San Diego-based fine artist, muralist, gallery owner, and community builder. Known for her signature pastel dreamscapes and her passion for infusing life with art, Stefanie is a radiant example of how motherhood and artistry can beautifully coexist.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself, your career and what inspires you?

I’m a San Diego-based, fine artist, muralist, and boutique gallery owner—each a part of my multidisciplinary creative and lifestyle brand, Stefanie Bales Fine Art. My brand motto is “To make living itself an art, " which guides my approach to life and work. I’m a passionate extrovert, connector, community builder, and mom to two young boys (my greatest works of Art!). I live every day seeking opportunities and inspiration that can expand my capacity for work and play and my ability to do both simultaneously.

I tease that I have clinical FOMO, because I’m just so passionate about experiencing every little thing that life has to offer. I want to know everyone, travel everywhere, witness and experience every big and little thing. If I receive an invitation to something you can almost guarantee it’ll be a YES from me. I find inspiration in the mundane, and as an artist truly believe that all of this ‘life’ lives in me and then flows out into my work.

I’m a huge advocate of Arts Education and was a professor of Art and Design Theory for over a decade before transitioning to focus exclusively on my art career 7 years ago. I have a BFA in Painting and an MS in Educational Counseling- at one time considering pursuing a career in Art Therapy.

In addition to my own business and art practice, I aim to serve as catalyst for the expansion of both public arts programing and private art accessibility within my community. I live to defy artist stereotypes and to educate people on the value of art beyond aesthetics. I’m passionate about finding creative ways for artists to step out of the shadows and into the spotlight. I recently gave a TEDx talk on “The Things They Don’t Teach You in Art School: The Business of Art”, in which I discuss a new paradigm of the artist-entrepreneur. I’m also a founding board member of the San Diego Chapter of Soho House.

What are your top three passions outside of work?

It’s so hard to choose just 3- I have so many! I’m not going to say my kids/family because that’s a given.. but:

Beverages- There’s very little in life that I enjoy more than my morning cup(s) of coffee or an evening glass of red wine. I’m also very into both coffee and wine culture- the Art of them.

Yoga- My favorite sport as a kid was gymnastics but I was 5'9 at 13 (I’m 6ft now) and

outgrew the equipment and had to quit. I've found yoga as an adult and am alarmingly good at it- it's my adult gymnastics and has become an alternate passion.

Fashion- Getting dressed is one of my favorite things to do- it allows me the ability to reinvent myself every single day. I love mixing unconventional styles, shapes, and textures- mixing high fashion with vintage or thrifted finds. I’m probably passionate about shoes most of all- I think of them as little sculptures for your feet. My closet is extensive (almost embarrassingly so), but I could be invited to a red carpet event or a costume party and be ready in 30 minutes without needing to buy a thing.

I have a dream of expanding SBFA to intersect more intentionally with the world of fashion. I’ve always envisioned a future where my art lives not only on canvas, but also on the body—through custom garments and accessories that blend fine art with high fashion. I actually just launched my first mini collection of hand painted garments and am really excited to see where it leads.

Runner’s up: Music, Community, Travel, anything outside, on the coast, in the sun.

What’s one quirky or unexpected thing about you that most people don’t know?

I was always more into the arts than sports but am a part of an extensive family of athletes. I was bored at the start of my freshman year of college and walked onto our Division 1 Varsity Crew team a month in (with zero prior experience). I ended up with a Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Champion award that year.

If you could design a themed room for our hotel, what theme would you choose and why?

An Art room, of course! Maybe something that showcases a timeline through the major artists and periods of art history up to contemporary works, or perhaps specifically a room that features women in Art History- with art and prints and color stories from Frida Kahlo, Georgia O'Keefe, Helen Frankenthaler, Yayoi Kusama- etc.

My favorite era of art history is impressionism, so a room focused on that period could also be really dynamic! Soft colors but lots of light and textural elements. I’d be happy to assist in the development of this if you ever design to expand the hotel :).

How can our readers get in touch with you?

You can find me at @stefaniebalesfineart across all social platforms, email me at hello@stefanibales.com, visit my website www.stefaniebales.com, or if you happen to find yourself in San Diego, visit The Stefanie Bales Fine Art Gallery in Little Italy!

From the canvas to her community, Stefanie Bales leads with imagination, heart, and fearless authenticity. This Mother’s Day, we celebrate her not only as a creative force, but as a woman who continues to inspire others by living artfully and wholeheartedly.

To all the moms, muses, and makers—this month is for you. 💐

Stay tuned for our next Muse of the Month, and don’t forget to follow along as we continue to celebrate the bold, brilliant women shaping the world around us.