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Emma Stern Hell is Hot

Apr 26 — Jun 7, 2025 | Paris, Turenne

Opening on Saturday, April 26, 2025 from 6 to 8 pm

Almine Rech Paris, Turenne is pleased to present Hell is Hot, Emma Stern's third solo exhibition with the gallery, on view from April 26 to June 7, 2025.

A “to-watch” list titled: She had sex with WHAT? Sea creatures, sultry bodiless voices, all-seeing angels and motorbikes between the legs—all revved up and swallowed by girly ardor. AI-generated videos of tiny humanoids swept up in muscled, demonic arms. In these videos, the moment of contact is where their bodies—so sculpted, so solid—tremble and melt, meeting the limit of where a haphazard intelligence understands the contact of flesh on flesh. In Emma Stern’s paintings, the edges hold: they gleam with the fullness of freaky desire. Dimorphic idealisms of snatched waists and anti-gravity T&A are morphed into adorable monsters sporting bunny ears and mermaid tails. Sculpted in 3D software favoured by amateur pornographers then finely painted in oils in cyber-sunset hues, Stern’s idols and avatars are give us the post-human we deserve.
[…]

— Alex Quicho, theorist and research director

Press release

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  • lire ou télécharger en Français

Selected artworks

  • Emma Stern,                                      SP33D D3M0N collaboration with Kaan Ulgener, 2025

    Emma Stern SP33D D3M0N collaboration with Kaan Ulgener, 2025

    Stainless steel
    195 x 102 x 91 cm
    77 x 40 x 36 in

  • Emma Stern,                                      Claire + Lucy (SP33D DEM0NZ), 2025

    Emma Stern Claire + Lucy (SP33D DEM0NZ), 2025

    Oil on canvas
    243.8 x 182.9 cm
    96 x 72 in

  • Emma Stern,                                      Pamela + Flynt (The Promotion), 2025

    Emma Stern Pamela + Flynt (The Promotion), 2025

    Oil on canvas
    208.3 x 182.9 cm
    82 x 72 in

  • Emma Stern,                                      Lucy (flame thrower), 2025

    Emma Stern Lucy (flame thrower), 2025

    Oil on canvas
    147.3 x 182.9 cm
    58 x 72 in

  • Emma Stern,                                      Lucy (limerence), 2025

    Emma Stern Lucy (limerence), 2025

    Oil on canvas
    147.3 x 182.9 cm
    58 x 72 in

  • Emma Stern,                                      Emily (the volunteer), 2025

    Emma Stern Emily (the volunteer), 2025

    Oil on canvas
    101.6 x 91.4 cm
    40 x 36 in

  • Emma Stern,                                      Serena (backstabber), 2025

    Emma Stern Serena (backstabber), 2025

    Oil on canvas
    101.6 x 91.4 cm
    40 x 36 in

  • Emma Stern,                                      Meredith (hot tub), 2025

    Emma Stern Meredith (hot tub), 2025

    Oil on canvas
    101.6 x 91.4 cm
    40 x 36 in

  • Emma Stern,                                      Flynt (final boss), 2025

    Emma Stern Flynt (final boss), 2025

    Oil on canvas
    101.6 x 91.4 cm
    40 x 36 in

  • Emma Stern,                                      Kiara (bareknuckle), 2025

    Emma Stern Kiara (bareknuckle), 2025

    Oil on canvas
    101.6 x 91.4 cm
    40 x 36 in

  • Emma Stern,                                      The Fallen (french vanilla), 2025

    Emma Stern The Fallen (french vanilla), 2025

    Oil on canvas
    30.5 x 40.6 cm
    12 x 16 in

  • Emma Stern,                                      The Fallen (rainbow sherbet), 2025

    Emma Stern The Fallen (rainbow sherbet), 2025

    Oil on canvas
    30.5 x 40.6 cm
    12 x 16 in

More on Emma Stern