ARTIST LAURA BERGER
Laura
Berger
Contemporary painter · Chicago · studio at Mana Contemporary · self-taught
A painter of rituals, nature and the quiet machinery of belonging — whose images arrive fully formed, like snapshots, in the moment the mind lets go.
She didn’t set out to be a painter.
Laura Berger went to school for theatre and design. She started painting after going through a particularly challenging period in her life — at first as a way to distract herself. It became something deeply therapeutic, and then, almost without her deciding it, a daily practice.
She has been teaching herself for many years since, trying to learn and grow. Her work explores rituals, nature, and our sense of belonging — the more subconscious, emotional and spiritual textures of being human.
What inspires you most?
“My biggest source of inspiration is really just the human experience — and particularly the more subconscious, emotional and spiritual experiences that we have. I’ve always been interested in psychology and interpersonal relationships.”
“Dreams are also very important to me, as is travel — I’ve really missed being able to travel internationally.”
“My ideas tend to come to me like fully formed little snapshots in my mind — either a visual, or a phrase or story. Often when I’m doing something where my mind isn’t tied down too much, like driving long distances or showering — or when I’m meditating. When I sit with my eyes closed, often images will arrive.”
“When I sit with my eyes closed, often images will arrive.”
From a list of words to a stretched canvas.
The ideas land first as language. “My paintings are pretty carefully planned out and always start with small sketches, which I then continue to work on and edit until I have the composition how I want it. Then I decide on the sizing, stretch the canvas, and transfer the image to begin to paint.”
Lately she’s loosened her grip: “I’ve been allowing color choices to happen intuitively rather than planning studies in advance. I just switched to oil paint about a year ago, so I’ve been immersed in learning the medium. It’s so tactile and physically enjoyable to work with — I really love it.”
How did this time affect your creativity?
“I’ve definitely felt quite emotionally and creatively affected. I really slowed down my production while I was trying to regain footing. I had some personal losses that were quite difficult to navigate, and I’m also such an empath — the whole thing has just been a lot. There’s so much grieving happening on personal and global levels.”
“It’s been an entirely new experience to learn how best to stay centered and healthy — to reconfigure our lives, our relationships, and sort through old ways of finding meaning. I feel like I’m finally regaining my flow with work, which is truly a massive relief.”
What does wellbeing mean to you?
“Wellbeing to me means a feeling of wholeness or completeness — a grounded sense inside of oneself, as well as an ability to access contentedness within whatever the current reality is offering up. Not always an easy feat these days.”
Her practice is plural and ordinary and tender: daily meditation, a walking habit grown meaningful, painting and looking at art of all kinds, being in nature, cooking and eating with her partner or friends, taking photos, taking baths, petting animals, seeking out connection — and yoga.
“A grounded sense inside of oneself — an ability to access contentedness within whatever the current reality is offering up.”
Antakly Projects — originally Ninu Nina — has been in conversation with the most inspiring voices in art, photography, design and culture since 2003. Laura Berger’s paintings ask, very gently, what it feels like to belong — and stay with you long after you’ve stopped looking.
All works © Laura Berger. Thank you to Laura for the conversation about her work, her process and what keeps her grounded.
lauraberger.com → Instagram @_lauraberger_ →
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Stay curious. ✦
