Born in Ithaca, New York, Ethan Stern resides in the Frogtown neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, where he runs Studio Melt alongside his wife and creative partner, Amanda McDonald Stern. Their studio specializes in sculpture, design, and fostering a sense of community centered around glass. Ethan obtained his Associates degree in Ceramics from TAFE College in Brisbane, Australia, and his BFA in Sculpture and Glass from Alfred University. Stern’s artwork enjoys broad exhibition and recognition, featuring prominently in the collections of esteemed institutions such as The Corning Museum of Glass, The Museum of Glass in Tacoma, Washington, The Fort Wayne Museum of Art, The Lowe Art Museum, The Museum of American Glass, The Eboltoft Glass Museum in Denmark, and the Toyama Glass Art Museum in Japan. Ethan has taught sculpture at the University of Washington, Pilchuck Glass School, Pratt Fine Arts Center, The Penland School of Craft, and the Pittsburgh Glass Center.
Pushing glass beyond the anatomy of the vessel, Ethan Stern’s work is an ongoing exploration of abstraction, color, texture and light. While glass typically reflects light and has an inherently shiny and dense appearance, He is drawn to a richer, more luminous effect that can be achieved by carving and engraving the surface. These engraved marks, like the stroke of a paintbrush on canvas or a finger pushed into clay; leave evidence of the Artists hand and are undeniably connected to his process and the nature of the material itself. |