Artist Interviews 2025

Natalia Berglund   
By Laura Siebold



Natalia Berglund is a Los Angeles artist who has recently been impacted by the wildfires in Pacific Palisades. Being a portrait artist, Natalia has always given life to and captured the strength and determination of humans in her paintings. Now, after losing her home in the fires, the artist has turned inward, rebuilding from the inside and showing her work in numerous group exhibitions. In her interview, Natalia talks about the creative opportunities that grow from loss and how art has the power to heal and transform. Check out her website Lost in the Palisades to support the talented artist and her work. We are grateful we get to follow up with Natalia in this issue and learn about her journey to recovery.


PHOTO CREDIT FOR ALL PICS THAT SHOW THE ARTIST = ALEX BERGLUND.

Natalia, I am happy to see your creativity unfold again after you lost your Malibu home in the Palisades Fire in January 2025. Thank you for sharing your story with the community. How has the reception to your work been in recent exhibitions and what have you gained from it?


Thanks so much for featuring me in this issue! Recently I have been exhibiting my works in a number of group shows. I like participating in these, as they allow me to gain exposure to a much wider audience and take away a lot of the pressure that comes with putting on solo shows. I also really enjoy getting to know the other artists who also participate in these exhibitions.



The exhibition “Out of the Ashes” at Craig Krull Gallery located at Bergamot Station Arts Center has been organized in response to the wildfires with 100% of the sales going directly to the artists. How did this exhibition come to life and what was your contribution to it?


“Out of the Ashes” was organized by Craig Krull and Douglas Marshall to support artists affected by the fires in multiple ways. For me, it was one of the most powerful and transformative artistic experiences I’ve had in a long time. After the fire, I was overwhelmed with the practicalities of rebuilding—finding a place to live, handling insurance, securing essentials—so much so that I assumed it would be a long time before I could create again. That changed when I was invited to participate in this exhibition. The opportunity, along with a deadline, gave me the push I needed to start painting again. I didn’t have a studio or supplies, but I bought a canvas and paints, cleared off a table, and got to work. As a portrait artist, I’ve always painted others, striving to capture their essence and tell their stories. This time, for the first time, I told my own. I created a self-portrait that reflects my state of transition—caught between what was lost and what’s yet to come. Embedded in the paint are actual fragments of my home, making the piece even more personal. The process was incredibly therapeutic.



Have you had a chance to get to know your co-exhibitors and share your stories during the days leading up to the exhibition?


Yes, I chatted with several participating artists before the exhibition, and I enjoyed viewing the artwork and hearing everyone’s stories during the reception. I felt connected to all of the artists who have gone through the same life-altering experience of losing so much. Hearing how everyone planned to move forward after this loss was also incredibly inspiring.



In the wake of disaster or profound changes, creativity usually soars for many artists. How has the experience been for you? Have you found new inspiration yet?


It has definitely taken some time to process everything (I am still processing), but overall, my goal is to step out in a new direction both philosophically and artistically. What’s gone is gone. Perhaps I am just trying to convince myself of this, but I feel that if I can find inspiration and grow from this loss both as a person and artist, then there is much more of a silver lining than if I try to recreate what was lost.



What are your priorities after this major life change? Are you planning on staying and keeping your art base in the Los Angeles area?


There’s so much I love about LA, and I definitely plan to keep my art base here. While my creative output may be influenced by this experience, my overall artistic goals and priorities remain unchanged.



In your opinion – will the artist community in Los Angeles be changed by this recent disaster and what can we learn from it?


Disasters have a way of bringing communities closer, and we’ve already seen how LA has come together—people supporting one another in countless ways. I hope this experience strengthens our artistic community and fosters even more collaboration, resilience, and support.



How can art help the community heal in times like these?


Art has always had the power to heal, inspire, and tell stories. In times of crisis, it becomes even more essential. It offers an emotional outlet, a sense of connection, and a way to document and process experiences. It reminds us that beauty and meaning can emerge even from devastation.



Would you consider cooperating with other impacted artists to build a fire-safe studio space in the future if you had the chance to and financial funds were available?


Many artists work from home studios, and I think in the wake of these fires, there will be a greater push to rebuild homes with better fire-resistant materials. Some artists may also consider moving their studios outside of their homes. But beyond building safer spaces, we need to focus on prevention—on governmental action to mitigate wildfire risks and protect communities in the first place.



Do you feel that there are enough resources available to help impacted artists in the Los Angeles area with the losses they have sustained?


There are resources available, but not nearly enough. The losses sustained from these fires run so deep that it will be incredibly difficult for the affected artists to regain their footing. Personally, I’ve been fortunate to receive some wonderful grants that have provided immense support. I also created a website https://lostinthepalisades.com where I sell prints of my works that were lost in the fire. Exhibitions like “Out of the Ashes” have also played a crucial role in bringing the works of fire-affected artists to larger audiences. Once the fires fade from the headlines though, I think the greatest resource for artists as they rebuild their lives will be patrons who value art and have a strong desire to support art and artists in their community. You can’t get back years of work, but financial support through sales is the best motivation and encouragement an artist can receive.



If there was anything else you could have saved from your Malibu home, what would it have been? Are you planning to include objects you have found in the rubble in your future work?




We evacuated with our pets, laptops, and the shirts on our backs. I’m incredibly grateful that we all made it out safely, but there’s so much I wish I could have saved. More than anything, I wish I could have saved my home. If not that, then at least my jewelry collection—pieces I had carefully acquired over the years. When the sky was dark with smoke, none of it seemed to matter. We held onto hope until the very end, believing our neighborhood might somehow be spared. When we finally returned and sifted through the rubble, I managed to find some of my jewelry, though it was too damaged to wear. Now, I plan to incorporate those pieces into new artwork, transforming what remains into something meaningful.