Lara Sturzenbaum - Jewellery Designer & Metalsmith

Lara Sturzenbaum was born in Río Gallegos, Patagonia, Argentina, where she immersed herself in the world of jewellery from a young age, beginning her journey with beading craftsmanship at just twelve years old. Over time, she refined her skills by incorporating semi-precious stones and precious metals into her work. In 2010, she founded her brand, Malercas.

Her artistic path later led her to Halifax, Canada, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, specializing in Jewellery Design and Metalsmithing, in 2022. Following her graduation, Lara continued developing Malercas, establishing it in Halifax. Since then, she has participated in art fairs locally, across provinces, and internationally.

Inspired by the breathtaking landscapes of Patagonia and the uniqueness of nature, her work blends traditional jewellery techniques with unconventional materials, including coloured and textured biomaterials created with natural dyes. She thrives when the technical side of jewellery-making meets experimentation with unconventional materials, as it makes the creative process more challenging and exciting.

Alongside her artistic practice, Lara shares her knowledge through online classes focused on jewellery-making and sketchbook techniques for beginner and intermediate students in schools across the US, Argentina, and Spain.

Most recently, she launched a limited-edition, pasta-inspired jewellery collection in collaboration with an Argentine jeweller, featuring pieces crafted in solid bronze and silver.