Ravenous sharks, two-headed snakes, and alligators that appear overly eager for a snack are notably less frightening in the hands of Lorien Stern. Armed with a bright color palette and exuberant style, the Mojave Desert-based artist creates a bold ceramic menagerie of some of the most menacing creatures on Earth.
Even with teeth bared and claws at the ready, the playfully rendered animals appear incapable of harm. While Stern addresses death and some of the most powerful, uncontrollable forces in nature, her sculptures offer joy and goodwill as an antidote to fear.
The artist is collaborating with Dave’s Clubhouse this August on an exhibition of functional goods at Souvenir of the Sunday, a gallery and studio space in Los Angeles run by artist Katie Kimmel. Until then, find more from Stern on Instagram.