Barbara Stella, Chief Art Conservator & President
Barbara Stella, Founder and Chief Conservator of Stella Art Conservation, specializes in the conservation and restoration of artworks with with particular expertise in paintings, guided by a commitment to museum-level methodology, ethical conservation practice, and material research. With more than 35 years of international experience, her work reflects a sustained dedication to preserving the historical and aesthetic integrity of artworks across a wide range of periods and techniques.
She received her academic training in conservation and restoration in Florence, Italy, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Art Conservation and continued her professional formation at the Istituto per l’Arte e il Restauro Palazzo Spinelli. During her career in Italy, she contributed to conservation projects for museums, private collectors, and cultural heritage institutions, developing a rigorous approach grounded in European conservation traditions and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Throughout her international career, Barbara has performed conservation treatments on paintings associated with historically significant artists, including Rembrandt, Claude Monet, Paolo Cagliari known as “il Veronese,” Joan Miró, Salvador Dalí, Dosso Dossi, among others. Her work is guided by a deep respect for artistic intention and material authenticity, values that have earned the trust of private collectors, galleries, and institutions.
Since establishing Stella Art Conservation in Florida, Barbara has guided the studio’s development into a trusted conservation resource for collectors and cultural institutions. She remains closely involved in examination, conservation treatment, and project oversight, ensuring that each artwork receives thoughtful and individualized care. Deeply committed to ongoing professional development, she maintains advanced expertise in evolving conservation methodologies, including nanotechnology-based approaches.
As Founder and Chief Conservator, Barbara defines the conservation philosophy and methodological direction of the studio, working collaboratively with a senior conservation team to uphold the highest professional and ethical standards. Through her leadership, Stella Art Conservation continues to provide museum-quality conservation treatments tailored to the needs of private collectors and institutions.
Carla Carvalho Tavares, Senior Conservator
Carla Carvalho Tavares is a highly experienced art conservator specializing in the conservation and restoration of artworks with particular expertise in paintings, and a strong foundation in scientific research and academic practice. She holds a PhD in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage, with a specialization in Painting, from Centro do Porto da Universidade Católica Portuguesa (UCP-CRP), completed in 2016.
Between 2010 and 2016, Carla worked as a researcher at the Centro de Investigação e Tecnologia das Artes (CITAR), contributing to conservation research initiatives in Portugal and Brazil. Her professional experience includes work within museum environments, such as Fundação Museu do Douro, as well as conservation studios in Portugal and Spain, where she developed an interdisciplinary approach that integrates technical analysis with practical treatment methodologies.
Carla joined Stella Art Conservation in 2017, bringing an international perspective shaped by academic research and hands-on studio experience. As Senior Conservator, she plays a central role in coordinating conservation treatments and serves as a key reference within the laboratory, supporting treatment planning, research integration, and methodological consistency in alignment with the conservation direction established by Founder and Chief Conservator Barbara Stella.
Her work reflects a careful balance between scientific investigation and aesthetic sensitivity, contributing to the studio’s mission of providing museum-quality conservation treatments for private collectors, galleries, and institutions.
Yanin Hernandez is a highly experienced art conservator specializing in the conservation and restoration of artworks, with particular expertise in paintings, surface treatment, retouching, and aesthetic integration. Her work reflects decades of international conservation practice, combining refined technical skill with a deep understanding of historical materials and artistic intent.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mural Paintings Restoration from Escuela Taller de la Habana Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos and a Master’s degree in Conservation and Restoration of Fine Arts from the Instituto Superior de Arte (ISA) in Havana. Her academic training established a strong scientific and historical foundation that continues to inform her conservation methodology.
Prior to joining Stella Art Conservation, Yanin worked extensively in Cuba on significant cultural heritage projects, carrying out conservation treatments for paintings within historic religious and institutional collections. Her professional experience also includes work on architectural surfaces and polychrome sculpture, as well as cataloguing, research, and technical analysis of artists’ materials. She contributed to a research initiative analyzing the color palettes of Cuban painters, leading to the development of a database currently used by the University of Havana.
At Stella Art Conservation, Yanin serves as Senior Art Conservator, playing an essential role in the conservation and restoration of paintings and supporting projects through advanced practical expertise. She brings an international conservation perspective to the studio’s mission of providing museum-quality conservation treatments.