“I feel inspired when I come upon a setting where I see a balance of light, shadow, nature and architecture. It’s like hearing a symphony – harmony and melody are the light and shade, color and texture are the instruments. In my paintings, I try to capture the simplicity of all these elements. The union of urban settings, natural surroundings and the changing light convey romance, nostalgia and beauty.”
– Stephen Bergstrom

A native of the Pacific Northwest, Stephen Bergstrom began his formal art education at the Art Institute of Seattle, where he graduated with a degree in Illustration and Graphic Design. Bergstrom was introduced to art at an early age by his grandfather, a painter, writer and engineer. As a student, several artists influenced Bergstrom’s work, especially Swedish artists Anders Zorn for his simplicity of color and theatricality, and Gustaf Fjaestad for his fascination with light and boldness of open-air painting. Bergstrom also loved Rembrandt’s candle-lit scenes and wandering shadows. These early influences are still the cornerstones of his passion for painting.

His education led him to work as an illustrator for magazines and newspapers, and to storyboarding TV commercials, working as a creative consultant on the set alongside the directors. Between projects he was either at the easel or plein-air painting. Eventually painting became his primary focus. Stephen Bergstrom’s artwork has been shown both locally and nationally since 1989. He won “Best of Show” at the 1985 Washington State Regional Art Show, the first of many such honors. His original oils and limited edition prints have found their way into collector’s homes around the world, and are now available exclusively through Bergstrom Fine Arts.