Rising Stars: Meet Berta Negari of Santa Monica

Today we’d like to introduce you to Berta Negari.

Hi Berta, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My Journey

I migrated to the United States in 1979, during the Iranian Revolution, when I was just 18 years old. I always had a deep passion for knowledge and creativity. But because of cultural expectations, I married at 20 and soon after became pregnant with my first child.

Even then, my love for learning was so strong that I enrolled at Santa Monica College and began taking classes. The very first course I took was English 101, and my teacher was an incredible woman. On the first day, she told us: “Close your eyes and listen. What do you hear, feel, and sense? Don’t just focus on what is in front of you — be aware of what surrounds you.” She then asked us to write an essay about the experience.

That moment shook something deep within me. It taught me to always keep my eyes and senses open in all directions — to never limit myself to only what I see in front of me, but to notice what is around me as well. That was the beginning of my lifelong curiosity and my desire to absorb everything I could.

From there, I continued my education slowly, one class at a time. I carried with me the belief that every class brought me one step closer to my degree — and that doing something, no matter how small, was better than doing nothing at all.

It took me many years, but eventually I earned my bachelor’s degree. Along the way, I worked as a sales representative for a fabric company, earned my Series 7 license, and pursued other courses and certifications. My thirst for learning and being productive never left me.

I also passed this mindset to my children. I taught them independence, encouraged them to take risks, and reminded them that I was always behind them with love and support.

Still, I often felt something was missing. No matter how hard I worked, there was a void I couldn’t quite define. Then, after my children were grown and had started families of their own, I faced a life-changing moment. In 2019, I was told I needed to create something. I had no idea what that meant until it was suggested to me: paint.

I had never painted before. I knew nothing about art, techniques, or even what supplies to use. But knowing myself, I jumped in with my eyes closed. I went to an art store and asked, “If I want to paint, what do I need?” They gave me a few options, and I chose acrylic paints and paper.

That was the start of a new journey. The more I painted, the better I became — and the more praise I received for my work. Encouraged by friends, I moved on to canvas, and then to larger and larger pieces.

Today, I am proud to say that my paintings are truly one of a kind. Each one invites the viewer to create their own story within it. What began as a leap into the unknown has become a passion that fills the space in me that was missing for so long.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Has this been a smooth road?
Not at all. The best way I can explain it is this: I’ve always felt like a wild salmon, swimming upstream in the opposite direction, determined to reach where I needed to go.

Long story short, I had to fight my way to be where I am today. And just when I thought I had weathered so many storms, life tested me again — in 2020, during the height of COVID, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.

It was a frightening and lonely time, made even harder because no one could be with me except my mother, for whom I am deeply grateful. Each and every difficult season, including that one, has taught me to be stronger, wiser, and more resilient.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
In this chapter of my life, I am proud to call myself an artist. I create abstract art using acrylics, and many have told me that my work carries echoes of Van Gogh and Jackson Pollock.

Each painting has its own life. I never plan them in advance — I simply place a blank canvas before me, surround myself with paints, and let the process unfold. I paint until I feel a deep sense of completion, and once that moment arrives, I never touch the piece again.

My paintings are not just images; they are experiences. They stir emotions, invite reflection, and reveal new layers the longer you look. They are meant to be lived with — pieces you will never grow tired of seeing.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
No I do it all head on and raw.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://berta.xyz
• Instagram: @bertanegari
• Facebook: Berta Negari