The Art of Dax Curtis Sterner

06/22/2026

I lost my Dad last year just before Thanksgiving to a fast, mean case of lung cancer. It was about a 4 month ordeal from diagnosis to the end, he was 75. I took it in stride as best I could. I’ve been to many funerals of loved ones in my life already, and I understand Death is inevitable. And my father lead a pretty amazing life. He was a Navy Vet, a musician, a business owner, a broadcasting engineer. He worked at a bank for 15 years, and also worked as a track official at the dirt speedway outside my home town. He was mayor of that town for 6 years, and met nationally recognized politicians. He had friends that brought him on tons of wild adventures. And he spent his retirement summers working for the city of Sioux Falls, mowing Falls Park, a very beautiful place. His favorite thing was cars, and he could regularly be found under a hood or in a junkyard or in a parking lot with other hot rodders talking shop. But above all, he was a wonderful, loving father who always supported my dream. I Love you dad. Happy Father’s Day. And same to all the dads and stepdads out there.

06/20/2026

Another Saturday. Like I said, compulsion.

06/18/2026

, the wonderful friend that he is, once got me the novel Moby Dick as a gift. I was a fan of Mastodon’s “Leviathan”, their concept album of the novel, and he felt I should know know source material. An excellent gift, and I learned just why it is considered one of the great American novels. The open sea fascinates me, as someone who has had limited exposure to things like that. Specifically the whaling culture. Now I can’t condone the cruel treatment of other earthly creatures, but the romance of sailing the high seas and battling Mother Nature is tough to resist. Not to worry anyone, but the notion that IF I ever lost everything in life, I would move to Alaska and work on crab boat holds big appeal to me. Anyway, here’s an old thing from 2018 I forgot about.

06/16/2026

06/13/2026

06/13/2026

Sometimes you gotta go to a show at 5 pm at your friends house. Wolfshirt 2026!

06/11/2026

Koi fish version 2: Bits and pieces.

06/07/2026

Detail from “Moon Witch of the Ohio”, originally from 2012. This is another piece I’ve always had an affinity for, even if it’s a little simple.

06/05/2026

My Heartland Coworker/Brother from Another Mother Alex is a pretty talented guy. We bonded over comics, art, and general weirdness. He’s having an art show! And I’m so proud. He’s a super talented M**o, and does a decent portion of the sculptural work at Heartlsnd. He’ll have work at/be at Star Deli for Benson First Friday (Omaha specific, sorry). 6-9 pm I think? Oh, and my coworker Gina has a booth somewhere out on the street. Check that out as well. Hopefully the weather cooperates. I love having creative friends.

06/04/2026

In late 2013 I went crazy for about 6 months. In that time, I did my first “real” artistic work. I was unemployed, and I spent my days obsessively creating. It was the first time in my life I felt the real pull of it. More than inspiration, but compulsion. Art isn’t a thing I “do”. It is a driving force in who I am. For lack of a better phrase, it “does” me. I a. At its whims, and I go where it leads. Anywho. In that initial creation period, I made at least 3 of the best pieces I have ever made. Call it beginners luck. This piece, I believe titled “ Leviathan in Sea of Red”, was a very early piece, one of the very first. Also, might be my best. Too bad these are the only good pictures I have. And it sold long ago. Emmanuel, if you’re out there, send me a good photo please!!!