Phillip Stern was born in 1961 and grew up in New England, in the northeast United States. At age10 he spent a formative year in Europe, where he was greatly inspired by classical and medieval architecture and sculpture. He received his B.A. in Art from Swarthmore College and M.F.A. in Sculpture from the University of Pennsylvania. He now lives with his family in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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Stern's vision is characterized by closeness to and respect for natural elements. He led a bucolic early life exploring neighboring woodlands and shorelines. He learned to draw representationally in a landscape setting. His father, a scientist, encouraged him to pursue a liberal arts education for the breadth of knowledge that would help him as an artist. This led him to explore widely and seek work experience across fields, from building theater sets and carving product models to graphic design and illustration.  

Stern's creative process in the studio is amplified by reading natural science books and articles, and thinking and writing about his own interactions with the nature around him. Employing an original process of modeling figures with copper tubing and cement, Stern works to find a special place for natural artifacts in each sculpture, telling stories about the intimate connections between human beings and the natural world.

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Read artist statement here

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