Born in the US and of German descent, Joe Stern spent his formative years on a US army base in Frankfurt before relocating to his home town of Santa Monica in sunny California.
After studying medicine at the universities of Heidelberg (Germany) and Berkeley (US), Joe joined the marines as a medical doctor and was stationed in Iraq until he was discharged with a gunshot wound – an experience that would prove to be a major turning point in his life.
On arriving home, it became clear that medicine no longer held the same appeal and that he needed an outlet to express his feelings of rage at the horrors he had witnessed during the war. This eventually led to his longstanding and successful career as an artist.
Working from a studio in San Pedro de Alcántara, Joe creates highly personal art which could be described as “impressionistic surrealism without any defined lines”.
In 2011, Joe met, fell in love with and proposed to German fashion designer and Marbella resident Barbara Weber Lichtenberg. He credits Barbara with raising his spirits and bringing him to a point where he is happy in his life.
Joe and Barbara join forces in their latest project to set about creating a “unique brand of art and fashion”. They also have their sights set on opening a brand studio in the south of France, on the Côte d’Azur. However, as a Californian at heart, Joe doesn’t rule out sweeping his bride-to-be off her feet and heading back west to make an impact stateside.
Barbara and Joe’s atelier is generally open for appointment only:
Calle Toledo 1, San Pedro de Alcántara
Tel. (+34) 611 362 986 / 603 651 093
