Cole Sternberg is a conceptual artist who lives and works in California.

His practice contemplates humanity’s existential quandary: that of being hopelessly destructive, yet forever and inevitably linked with nature. Through varied media (including painting, sculpture, installation, performance, photography, film and writing), Sternberg positions the aspirations of humankind against the dominant and regenerative forces of the environment and the arbitration of time. For the artist, the conclusion is unavoidable. Human enterprises -- art, language, history, law, and republic -- are ephemeral / illusory endeavors that attempt to reflect, parallel, and challenge the ascendency of nature to no avail.

In recent years, Sternberg’s painting practice has centered on the environment acting as the true artist. Some pieces have incorporated poetry, suggesting imprecise narratives or descriptions that can’t be fully apprehended through words. His photographs interrupt time, while historical and cultural myths are pursued and deconstructed in sculptural installations and film.  These confrontations frequently materialize in instances of erasure; erasure of marks and words, erasure of history, or the erasure of the natural environment.  Sternberg’s works remain subversive in their unremitting search for truth, noting humanity’s attempts to create beautiful permanence while failing admirably. 

Sternberg has exhibited nationally and internationally, including exhibitions at the American University Museum, ESMoA, LA><ART (now “The Brick”), Los Angeles Nomadic Division (LAND), the Wende Museum, Praz Delavallade, Yeo Workshop, Honor Fraser, The Hole, Peter Blake Gallery, Hochhaus Hansa, There There, Primary, David B. Smith Gallery, Frieze, Paris Photo, Zona Maco, ArtBo, Art Los Angeles Contemporary and MAMA. His recent editions and digital work has been released by Art Blocks, Verse and Exhibition A.

Sternberg’s works are held by major collections throughout the world, such as the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM), the American University Museum (AUM), the Museum of New and Old Art (MONA), Villanova University and Deutsche Telekom. It has been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Whitewall Magazine, Issue Magazine, Autre Magazine, Hercules, Denver Post, Miami New Times, LA Weekly, Art Ltd., Architectural Digest, Angeleno, Sleek, Metal Magazine, ArtNet, Cool Hunting, Santa Barbara Magazine, Huffington Post, Carla and Elephant. Click here for a downloadable CV.