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Almine Rech

Emma Stern

Emma Stern's work deploys her formal background in traditional oil-on-canvas painting to achieve a kind of contemporary portraiture made possible by 3d software. Using tools intended for game developers to create virtual female models that serve as her subjects, her work emphasizes and exacerbates the apparent inclination towards pornographic (or at least porn-adjacent) representations of women in 3d communities and gaming culture. Persistent themes include subversion, perversion, fantasy, and a unique kind of off-brand feminism vaguely reminiscent of pop-up ads of the "You Won't Last 5 Minutes in This Game” variety.

Selected artworks

  • Emma Stern,                                      Blossom (baggage), 2021

    Emma Stern Blossom (baggage), 2021

    Oil on canvas
    182.9 x 147.3 cm
    72 x 58 in

  • Emma Stern,                                      Blossom (extra dirty, two olives), 2021

    Emma Stern Blossom (extra dirty, two olives), 2021

    Oil on canvas
    182.9 x 147.3 cm
    72 x 58 in

  • Emma Stern,                                      Blossom (on the house), 2021

    Emma Stern Blossom (on the house), 2021

    Oil on canvas
    101.6 x 91.4 cm
    40 x 36 in

  • Emma Stern,                                      Ashlynne ( window seat), 2021

    Emma Stern Ashlynne ( window seat), 2021

    Oil on canvas 
    137.2 x 116.8 cm
    54 x 46 in

  • Emma Stern,                                      Pearl (floater), 2021

    Emma Stern Pearl (floater), 2021

    Oil on canvas
    147.3 x 178.4 x 2.5 cm
    58 x 70 1/4 x 1 1/4 in

  • Emma Stern,                                      Ashlynne, 2021

    Emma Stern Ashlynne, 2021

    Oil on canvas
    101.6 x 91.4 cm
    40 x 36 in

  • Emma Stern,                                      Blossom + Fang (dawn), 2021

    Emma Stern Blossom + Fang (dawn), 2021

    Oil on canvas
    182.9 x 243.8 cm
    72 x 96 in

  • Emma Stern,                                      Amber (National Anthem) 2, 2021

    Emma Stern Amber (National Anthem) 2, 2021

    Charcoal, graphite, and acrylic on paper
    76.3 x 56.3 cm (framed)
    30 x 22 in (framed)

  • Emma Stern,                                      Quinn (righty), 2022

    Emma Stern Quinn (righty), 2022

    Graphite and charcoal on paper
    99.1 x 81.3 cm
    108.4 x 88.5 x 3.8 (framed)
    39 x 32 in
    42 11/16 x 34 7/8 x 1 1/2 in (framed)

  • Emma Stern,                                      Blossom + Fang (dusk), 2021

    Emma Stern Blossom + Fang (dusk), 2021

    Oil on canvas
    182.9 x 243.8 cm
    72 x 96 in

Selected press