Jason Stern
jasonsstern@gmail.com
Instagram: jason_pottery


I am a craft-based sculptor and printmaker based in Oakland, California. My work explores ecological themes and our relationship with our wildlands and their inhabitants. I’m interested in meditating on the aesthetic and subjective experiences of wildlife & wildlands through sculpture that plays with absurd or unusual use of materials and scale. What can the embodied experience of making tell us about our wildlands that science cannot?

My work is deeply rooted in Craft; it is important to me that the work of my hands is visible in every piece.  Perfection is not something I am for.  Your tactile experience with the object I make is much more important to me.  My work is meant to be touched.

CV

SELECTED WORK - CLAY

-Poppies
MONOCULTURES 


My poppy sculptures explore the connection between fragile yet resilient ecosystems and the delicate yet permanent nature of ceramics. Each hand-crafted piece reflects the poppy’s vulnerability and endurance, capturing organic form and texture while translating fleeting natural systems into lasting sculptural form.

Wheel-thrown Porcelain (Soda / Gas fired) on Stainless steel + moving platform
Installation size is variable, 36in tall
2024




—Lupines for the Birds 
MONOCULTURES

The ‘petals’ are coated with a ruby-infused glaze that reflects a color outside of our visual range. This color, however, is visible to many migrating birds that may use this structure as
habitat.


Wheel-thrown Ceramic, glazed with UV-reflective glaze on enameled steel
3ft x 3ft x 12ft
2024




— Porcelain Choker
JEWLWERY 

Choker-style porcelain chains soda-fired to capture the kiln’s atmosphere, paired with sterling silver clasps. No two chains are the same.

Porcelain (Soda-fired) & sterling silver
18 - 22in
2026




Night Foragers — Night Foragers
VASES WITH NO FUNCTIONS
 
Carved porcelain vases depicting the watching eyes of the world around us.  This work was made in response to a growing sense of climate anxiety in my community.

Wheel thrown Porclain 
12x8x8in
2025




—Portrait of Masha  
VASES WITH NO FUNCTIONS

Collaboration with sculptor  Masha  S. This work is a portrait of the artist through their own image of themselves.  

Wheel thrown Porclain
12x8x8in
2025



—Nasturtiums on clay
VASES WITH NO FUNCTIONS

3D translation of my Nasturtiums woodblock print from the  MONOculture series.    


Wheel thrown Porclain
12x8x8in
2025


First blue guy 
ANGRY BLUE HEADS 

Porcelain vessel with cyanotype exposed directly onto the body. The faces read as inward and restrained, their emotional tone intentionally uncertain. Maybe they are judging you? Maybe their face just looks like that.  


Cyanotype on Porcelain
14x6x7in

2025


faceless blue guy 
ANGRY BLUE HEADS 

Porcelain vessel with cyanotype exposed directly onto the body. The faces read as inward and restrained, their emotional tone intentionally uncertain. Maybe they are judging you? Maybe their face just looks like that.  


Cyanotype on Porcelain
9x14x10in

2025


Dull blue guy 
ANGRY BLUE HEADS 

Porcelain vessel with cyanotype exposed directly onto the body. The faces read as inward and restrained, their emotional tone intentionally uncertain. Maybe they are judging you? Maybe their face just looks like that.  


Cyanotype on Porcelain
14x6x9in

2025


Might be a little drunk blue guy 
ANGRY BLUE HEADS 

Porcelain vessel with cyanotype exposed directly onto the body. The faces read as inward and restrained, their emotional tone intentionally uncertain. Maybe they are judging you? Maybe their face just looks like that.  


Cyanotype on Porcelain
11x6x7in

2025

Blue on the inside, blue guy 
ANGRY BLUE HEADS 

Porcelain vessel with cyanotype exposed directly onto the body. The faces read as inward and restrained, their emotional tone intentionally uncertain. Maybe they are judging you? Maybe their face just looks like that.  


Cyanotype on Porcelain
14x6x7in

2025


Eclipse light (before)
TIME-BASED WORK

The blue photo exposure captures the movement of the moon eclipsing the sun from 10:45am - 12:30pm on April 8, 2024  through multiple pinhole cameras. The blue lines trace the path of the eclipsed sun.  Only light from the eclipse touched this work.


32x12x14in
cyanotype on clay 
2024

Eclipse light (after)
TIME-BASED WORK

The blue photo exposure captures the movement of the moon eclipsing the sun from 10:45am - 12:30pm on April 8, 2024  through multiple pinhole cameras. The blue lines trace the path of the eclipsed sun.  This piece was exposed to the sun in full to create the rich Prussian blue color.  

32x12x14in
cyanotype on clay
2024

metior shower 
MATERIAL STUDY

An accidental piece created while preparing an experimental clay body.  A lesson I teach beginner students is “know when to stop,” and sometimes that can be right at the beginning.

12x12x12in

Musical instrument blue guy 
ANGRY BLUE HEADS 

Porcelain vessel with cyanotype exposed directly onto the body. The faces read as inward and restrained, their emotional tone intentionally uncertain. Maybe they are judging you? Maybe their face just looks like that.  


Cyanotype on Porcelain
14x12x11in

2025

Woven pot
VASES WITH NO FUNCTIONS

Woven basket laced in with wheel-thrown ceramics. The basket pattern was loosely inspired by historical baskets from rural Maine.    

Porcelain on Birch
22x8x8in
2025

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