Marlene Bergman's Bio

Painting allows me to step in to a place that isn't precise or preconceived. I begin a canvas with a color palette and let those colors take on a life of their own. The experience is free of expectation as I share a journey and relationship with the materials and tools that give birth to the final work.

I intend for my work to convey an idea, leaving the viewer to finish the thought in a way that is unique to their perception. I hope that freeing the observer to understand the many ways something can be seen might be translated into the entirety of their lives.

My creative journey began in Los Angeles, then on to Italy where I spent 7 years, living and learning the language, while painting. I was fortunate to have this opportunity to absorb the beauty and history of a country so rich in culture that all I needed to do was open my eyes and experience a thousand years of art and architecture. In addition to its past achievements, I was further influenced by the contrast of present day Italy, ever on the forefront in all aspects of art and design.

Upon my return to Los Angeles, influenced by my experience abroad, I developed a successful and productive career as owner of Firesign Design. My firm specialized in album cover art and merchandising materials for the entertainment industry. During this time I never stopped painting. Now, as a resident of Rancho Mirage, I have dedicated myself to the one thing I wanted all along, to paint and share my inspiration with others.

This current body of work reflects a sense of personal interaction experienced in various locations. As the environment pushes and pulls us closer and further from our families and fellow travelers, so do the colors and shapes bind, separate, and expand to envelope us in the common space we share.