Born in Zimbabwe in 1963, Juria obtained a B.A. Creative Arts (Jewellery Design and Manufacture) from Stellenbosch University in 1986. She has since exhibited widely in solo and group jewellery and painting exhibitions. In 1987 she founded Amulet, a co-operative workshop with three members, in Cape Town.

Her solo exhibition ‘Elegie’ / ‘Reeksmoord’ (US Art Gallery, Stellenbosch 2011, and KKNK, Oudtshoorn 2012) – featuring 50 portraits of South African murder victims, acclaimed for being both tribute and protest. Recently she uses the symbolism of fire and water to explore the Anthropocene, loss of heritage, land ownership, environmental challenges, climate change, and the transience of human life. SKEMER (dusk), a solo exhibition reflecting this theme, was held at Nel, Cape Town, in September 2024.

An award-winning portrait artist, Juria has repeatedly been shortlisted for the biannual Portrait Award (Top 40 and Top 100). In 2023, her portrait placed 5th overall. She lives in De Rust with her husband, artist Brahm van Zyl, and they co-curated “Praatland” for KKNK 2026.