We recently connected with Clara Berta and have shared our conversation below.

Clara, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

My parents were hard-working Hungarians with strong ethics in doing good work. They instilled this work ethic in me. I believe this has been foundational in my business. Because of them, I love to create the best paintings possible. I work hard to create stunning pieces that make a difference in my collectors’ lives and in the galleries that represent my work.

Clara, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am Clara Berta, a Hungarian-American contemporary abstract painter based in Palm Springs, California. I came to this country when I was 11 years old. Those early years in school were tough as students were not very accepting of me as a foreigner. They made fun of me because I dressed differently and spoke English poorly. However, I am very grateful that I had a special English teacher who took me under her wing for three years of Junior High School in Chicago, IL. She helped give me the best start.

I have been practicing art since 2000 and have become known for my large-scale paintings that embody the vibrancy and tranquility of the natural world through my use of organic forms and layering of colors.

The dynamic movement and restorative potential of water are an enduring source of inspiration for me. I feel that water draws a connection between my heritage in Hungary, where thermal springs are known for their healing properties, and the power and majesty of the ocean that my works conjure.

My academic background is in psychology and plays a role in my fascination with the human emotional response to color and abstract forms. In my work, I recognize the transformative power of art and its potential for self-expression. These are the central themes of my teachings in my creative workshops for women. The physical process of creating my large paintings also ties in with my interest in movement and the body and traces a lineage to my earlier exploration of performance art.

I studied advanced composition and technique at the Santa Reparata School of Art in Florence, Italy, and printmaking in the US. My paintings have been exhibited and collected worldwide, including in Europe, China, Dubai, and notably at the Chiba City Museum of Art in Japan. Also, my work has been featured in high-profile film and television productions on prominent networks such as Disney, 20th Century Fox, ABC, and CBS.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

It was in 2012 when I sold my home in Studio City and decided to become a full-time working artist. It was a risk to start over again but I did it. I moved to Downtown Los Angeles and found a fabulous loft which made me very happy.

I turned the second bedroom into my art studio where I started to teach classes to women. Teaching what I loved was so much fun and gave me the livelihood and space to fully create my art. I immersed myself in all kinds of creative projects, by myself and with my students, including using coffee grounds from Starbucks to explore textures in some of the paintings.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Right now, in fact, I have been working through a crisis since my fiancé has vascular dementia and is on hospice. Sadly, he has been very sick this year, especially after his last stroke. It has been quite the challenge being a caregiver in this capacity, running my business and creating my beautiful art. Sometimes, I wondered if it could all work together.

What I found, however, is that my art has become a healing force in my life, especially right now. I am pouring my passion for him, my life, and my life’s purpose into my paintings. Harnessing these emotions and directing them onto the canvas helps me create pieces that evoke impact to the viewer. The net result will catapult my art business forward to new horizons.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ClaraBerta.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clarabertaart/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClaraBertaArt
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claraberta/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/clarabertaart
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@clarabertaart
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/clara-berta-studio-palm-springs-2?osq=clara+berta+studio

Image Credits
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