stern (née monat) was born in poland in 1932, 7 years before the outbreak of world war ii. after surviving the holocaust, a 16-year-old stern moved to paris and then to new york, where she met sculptor and future husband, jan peter stern (1926-2004). while living in new york, stern took art classes at the new york school for social research, the museum of modern art, and the whitney museum of american art. in 1965 the sterns moved across the united states and settled in santa monica, california, a relocation that would lead to their breakthroughs as artists. the couple shared a symbiotic artistic relationship and exhibited together throughout their careers.