prototypes
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Artist Cole Sternberg hand-painted each piece in his Prototypes series, merging his painterly approach with an acceptance of environmental unpredictability—a hallmark of his broader environmentally driven practice. The title Prototypes reflects the project's experimental ethos, as Sternberg sought to deepen his understanding of glaze as both medium and metaphor. By engaging with brutalist forms that prioritize utility and functionality, Sternberg intentionally distanced himself from conventional notions of form, inviting a dialogue between material exploration and conceptual abstraction.
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Each piece in the Prototypes series is a singular creation, individually hand-painted and signed by Cole Sternberg, underscoring its uniqueness as both artwork and object. Crafted from food-safe stoneware, these works embody a seamless fusion of aesthetic intention and practical utility. Designed for maximum functionality, they are versatile enough to withstand the demands of daily life, including use in the oven, dishwasher, and microwave, further blurring the boundary between art and the everyday.
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Cole Sternberg is a California-based conceptual artist whose work explores humanity's destructive yet inextricable bond with nature. Through diverse media—painting, sculpture, film, writing, and more—Sternberg examines human attempts to parallel or challenge nature’s supremacy, revealing them as ephemeral pursuits. Recent works center on the environment as the true artist, integrating poetry, erasure, and cultural deconstruction to confront impermanence. His pieces are held by major institutions like LACMA, PAMM, and MONA and have been featured in prominent publications such as The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Architectural Digest.
