“The Power to Protect: Sculpture of Linda Stein? at the Nathan D. Rosen Museum

Wednesday, 20 December 2006 08:51

Boca Raton, FL - Once you feel the strength of Linda Stein’s sculpture, it’s not a surprise that she had the nerve to stand-up to Borat in his current film.  Stein’s monumental knights evoke a visceral power of protection impossible to ignore.  On exhibition January 7th – February 18th, 2007 at the Nathan D. Rosen Museum.

Ever since 9/11, when New York Artist Linda Stein ran northward from her studio from the collapsing Twin Towers, her work has embodied the extremes of strength and fragility -- power and vulnerability.  “These armored knights protect the part of me that felt powerless and unprotected on that sunny day in September,” offers Stein.  Her larger-than-life sculptures, now on exhibition at the Flomenhaft Gallery in Chelsea, Manhattan, take inspiration from popular female icons like Wonder Woman, Princess Mononoke as well as the ancient Buddhist goddess, Kannon. 

Stein’s sculptures dissolve gender roles, blending traditional masculine and feminine traits to create works with tremendous androgynous strength.  The artist continues, “These knights are symbols of protection, peace and security in a world of escalating injustice and war.”  Each of the knights are unique — integrating metal, wood, stone and leather into forms that invoke impenetrability and vulnerability simultaneously.  Collectively the sculptures evoke protection, a central theme running throughout 25 years of Stein’s career as an artist.

Linda Stein, who was recently featured in Sasha Baron Cohen’s blockbuster Borat, has been well-known world-wide for her gender-bending work.  Her presence in the international limelight has garnered recent interviews with Nightline, Newsweek, The London Times, CNN and dozens of other international outlets.

“The Power to Protect: Sculpture of Linda Stein” has been a tremendous success with back-to-back exhibitions and lectures across the country, permanent outdoor commissions and considerable interest among private collectors.  Stein says, “It’s wonderful to return to Boca for this comprehensive show.  Previously I exhibited at the Boca Raton Museum and the Camino Real Gallery, and I am pleased to return to an area with such an appreciation for art.”

A 48-page catalogue of this work is available at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  You can see also see her work at www.lindastein.com.  Visit the Nathan D. Rosen Museum - Adolph & Rose Levis Jewish Community Center - 9801 Donna Klein Blvd. - Boca Raton, Fl 33428 - Web Site: www.levisjcc.org