Cole Sternberg

Cole Sternberg is an American visual artist. Sternberg's primary medium is painting. The artist also has works in: photography, sculpture, room installations and film. Cole Sternberg Paintings, a hardcover book released in 2008 features six years of his painting. The 162 page book is listed as the first public release of Sternberg's work. Subsequent work has been exhibited in the United States and Europe.

Early life
Sternberg was born in Richmond, VA and grew up in Saratoga, CA. He spent his early life drawing endlessly, but hated the concept of being told how to perceive art, hence his educational pursuits led to B.A. degrees from Villanova University in business, and a Juris Doctor from American University. While at American, Sternberg received the university's Highest Award for Scholarship at the Graduate Level. He hung oil paintings in a bar in his spare time as a student at American.

Career
Cole Sternberg lives and works in Los Angeles. His practice touches a range of formats including painting, installation, video, and writing. Series of his work has focused on a variety of social issues, from current human rights activism and its relationship to the law, to the environment, to the media and concepts of content overload.

The works tend to be subtle or subversive in nature, driven by elegant visual concepts and poetry. He is interested in the intersection between humanity and humankind and how their lack of congruity hinders social progression and development.

Exhibitions (selection)
Sternberg has exhibited both nationally and internationally, including exhibitions at The American University Museum (Washington, DC), El Segundo Museum of Art (El Segundo, CA), Hochhaus Hansa (a Ruhr.2010 Museum, Dortmund, Germany), Primary (Miami), David B. Smith Gallery (Denver), Los Angeles Nomadic Division (LAND, Los Angeles), the Getty Museum's Pacific Standard Time, Paris Photo (Los Angeles), Zona Maco (Mexico City), ArtBo (Bogota), Art Los Angeles Contemporary (ALAC), e105 Gallery (Berlin), LA><ART (Los Angeles) and MAMA (Los Angeles & Berlin).

Collections
His works are held by major collections throughout the world, such as the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM), El Segundo Museum of Art (ESMoA), American University Museum (AUM) and Deutsche Telekom.

Reception
Cole's work 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, Flaunt, ArtNet, Huffington Post, Cool Hunting, Santa Barbara Magazine, Huffington Post, Lum Art Magazine, Carla and Elephant.

2022

 * departed for the curve, Praz Delavallade, Los Angeles, CA
 * to join the larger raindrop of the world, Yeo Workshop, Singapore
 * The Medium as the Message, Wende Museum, Los Angeles, CA

2021

 * Threads and Tensions: The Interconnected World, Yeo Workshop, Singapore
 * Freestate, El Segundo Museum of Art (ESMoA), El Segundo, CA

2020

 * Show Me the Signs, Blum & Poe, Los Angeles, CA
 * Year One, Ojai Institute, Ojai, CA
 * owls stirred the silence here and there, Pluto Projects, Los Angeles, CA

2019

 * The Edge of Light, Huntington Beach Art Center, Huntington Beach, CA
 * Smoke & Mirrors, AF Projects, Los Angeles, CA
 * the blue water was only a heavier and darker air, Peter Blake Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
 * the trees turned to shadows in a grey fog, There-There, Los Angeles, CA

2018

 * A Matter of Course, The Guggenheim Gallery at Chapman University, Orange, CA
 * As You Like It - C’est Comme Vous Voulez, Praz Delavallade, Los Angeles, CA

2017

 * the windward side off the island, MAMA, Berlin, Germany
 * elsegundissimo, El Segundo Museum of Art, El Segundo, CA

2016

 * for a moment the concrete felt soft and warm, AiOP, New York, NY
 * for a moment, it scraped, then cooled, the feet, LAXART, Los Angeles, CA
 * Rob Pruitt's Flea Market, Los Angeles Nomadic Division (LAND), Los Angeles, CA
 * the nature of breathing in salt, MAMA, Los Angeles, CA

2015

 * are the green fields gone, the high seas
 * a moment near the sea, MAMA + ARTed House, East Hampton, NY

2014

 * Erection, MAMA, Los Angeles, CA
 * International Friendship Exhibition, Primary, Miami, FL
 * Home, El Segundo Museum of Art, El Segundo, CA

2013

 * Art Works, e105 Gallery, Berlin, Germany
 * a moment in the sun, ARTed House, Wainscott, NY
 * all his strength was concentrated in his fists, including the very strength that held him upright, David B. Smith Gallery, Denver, CO

2012

 * you'll miss your riding lesson tomorrow, Primary Projects, Caruso Art and Flaunt Magazine, Miami, FL
 * Perpetual Conceptual: Echoes of Eugenia Butler, Los Angeles Nomadic Division (LAND), Los Angeles, CA
 * All in for the 99%, Ace Museum, Los Angeles, CA
 * Salon de Notre Societe, Primary Projects, Miami, FL
 * Group Exhibition, Deutsche Telekom (Detecon), Cologne, Germany
 * Group Exhibition, David B. Smith Gallery, Denver, CO

2011

 * Here Lies Georges Wildenstein, Primary Projects, Miami, FL
 * I was here for just a moment, David B. Smith Gallery, Denver, CO

2010

 * One on One, Hochhaus Hansa (a Ruhr.2010 Museum), Dortmund, Germany
 * 100 Artists See Satan, Grand Central Arts Center, Cal State Fullerton, Santa Ana, CA
 * Group Exhibition, David B. Smith Gallery, Denver, CO
 * Transparenz, Detecon (presented by e105 Gallery), Bonn, Germany

2009

 * and those who were dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music, American University Museum, Washington, DC
 * New Works, Kinsey/DesForges, Culver City, CA

Publications

 * the constitution, the free republic of california, 2021
 * my first summer in the sierra, words by John Muir, imagery and design by Cole Sternberg, hat & beard press, 2021
 * the nature of breathing in salt, hat & beard press, 2019
 * the windward side of the island, 2017
 * for a moment it scraped then cooled the skin, 2016
 * all his strength was concentrated in his fists, including the very strength that held him upright, 2013
 * And those who were dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music, 2010, Chronicling the exhibition of the same name at the American University Museum
 * Cole Sternberg Paintings, 2008, Chronicling on canvas works from 2002–2008