We had the good fortune of connecting with Daniel Stern and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Daniel, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I was an academic failure in high school, but I found success in every art class I took—so it felt like I had no choice but to pursue a career in the arts. I dropped out at 17, moved to New York to become an actor, and I’ve been making a living in the arts ever since.

Over time, I’ve continually expanded my artistic disciplines: moving into film directing, screenwriting, playwriting, writing a book—and eventually finding true artistic freedom as a sculptor. The common thread running through all of my creative work is the connection I strive to make with the audience.

As human beings, we need to share our stories to express the awe, the beauty, and the ugliness that come with life on Earth. When my stories resonate with others, I suppose it gives me a sense of comfort and peace.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
When most people think of bronze sculpture, they picture a big, heavy, serious statue in the middle of a town square. I try to turn that expectation on its head by bringing emotion, motion, humor, and humanity into my work. I love testing the limits of the metal—using the strength of welding and internal steel structures to create the illusion of a person doing something seemingly impossible, like a one-handed handstand that feels on the verge of collapse but holds firm.

What I find most meaningful in my career is the education I’ve received through collaboration with incredibly talented artists and craftspeople—and the opportunity to pass that knowledge on to younger artists. Like the unsung heroes behind a film, bronze sculpture on a monumental scale is a deeply collaborative art form. My work wouldn’t exist without the mold-makers, wax workers, welders, and so many others who help me bring each piece to life.

Over the years, I’ve learned a lot—not just about sculpture, but about myself. I’m constantly discovering my strengths, my blind spots, and what truly interests me. Each sculpture is a promise I make to myself, and finishing it requires knowing when to push harder and when to ease up.

I’ve been in the public eye for nearly fifty years. You can literally watch me age in movies from 1979 to 2025. I’ve written a memoir and done countless interviews to promote films and TV shows, so my story is out there for anyone who’s curious.

But my job as an artist is to keep going—to keep creating, to keep digging for meaningful stories, and to put them out into the world. How people respond is something I can’t predict or control. I guess my “brand” is really just the sum of everything I’ve done and continue to do. My hope is simply that people connect with what I’m putting out there.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m such a hermit that I’d happily have them stay on my farm for the entire week. We grow most of our own food, my wife is a phenomenal chef, and we spend our days walking through the orchard, riding horses, hanging out in my studio, playing basketball, and just enjoying time with the family.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’ve learned so much from so many different people, but my greatest teacher has been Ramon Velazco—an unbelievably talented sculptor who also ran one of the foundries I used for some of my first public art commissions.

Ramon taught me every aspect of bronze sculpting, but especially the practical side. These sculptures not only have to be artistically perfect, they also need to be engineered with precision. I want people to feel free to touch them, for children to be able to climb on them—and having Ramon’s voice in my head at every step gives me the confidence to bring these visions from my imagination into the real world.

Website: https://www.danielstern.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realdanielstern

Twitter: https://x.com/realdanielstern

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DanielSternofficial

Other: I’m excited to announce the launch of a new line of mini sculptures, inspired by the continued support of my fans and collectors. For updates and release information, please visit www.danielstern.art.

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.