Paula Stern has spent decades shaping silence into presence — translating the human form into bronze, resin, and clay with a precision that goes far beyond physical likeness. A Maine-based sculptor with a remarkable dual career in federal leadership and fine art, Paula Stern brings an extraordinary depth of perspective to her work that few artists can match.
Her sculptures of world figures, intimate family portraits, and dynamic groupings reveal an artist driven by the belief that each face and body carries a story worth preserving. Represented by Portland Art Gallery, Paula Stern's work invites close looking, emotional connection, and even touch — completing a relationship between viewer, subject, and sculptor.
What drives a former presidential appointee to cast her life's meaning in bronze? The answer is more layered than you might expect.