Louisa Bertman is an award winning feministillustrator, animator and filmmaker living in Cambridge, Massachusetts. As a visual narrative artist her work pushes illustrations, gifs, animated shorts, and visual narratives in conjunction with technology and social media to advocate art for social awareness, social justice and social innovation. Her interest lies in creating art for advocacy. Whether it's gifs focusing on Climate awareness for ; video game characters for , or animated shorts for NPR's WNYC Podcast series, "Caught The Lives of Juvenile Justice", Bertman's works address a range of political and social justice issues including sex, race, age, and cultural identity. Bertman utilizes the power of visual narratives to enable activism and change. She is known for incorporating humor and/or extreme graphic imagery in her work. She is also known for "untraditional portraitures of celebrities, influencers and personalities"
Personal life
Louisa Bertman is from Newton, Massachusetts. Her parents are , who has worked with her on occasion, and PhD, Ft, , and leading thanatologist who pioneered applied arts and humanities in clinical, academic and public settings; founding director of University of Massachusetts' Medical School's Medical Humanities program. Her two siblings include, David Bertman - a television and film director editor, and winner of the 2017 ACE Eddie Award for the This is US pilot episodel and Jonathan Bertman, a physician, entrepreneur and founder of Amazing Charts, and Afraid To Ask. Initially Bertman attended NYU Tisch School of the Arts, and was a professional modern dancer in New York City. She received her BFA in illustration from Parsons The New School for Design. She received an MFA in Visual Narrative from The School of Visual Arts.
Professional career
Embracing the intersection of illustration, technology and social media, Louisa Bertman is an award-winning illustrator, animator, filmmaker, and producer of creative nonfiction visual narratives. Her illustrations, gifs, and bring attention to social awareness and social justice. From MTA Posters for The LGBTQ Center, NYC to Podcasts for ; to female video game characters for #rightfullyhers - American Women and the Vote exhibition for The National Archives, DC, Bertman's work appears in video games, magazines, newspapers, podcasts, social networks, and film festivals worldwide including The National Archives, The New York Times. The Wall Street Journal, The Village Voice, Los Angeles Times, ESPN The Undefeated, GQ, The ROOT, and The Nation. She has created illustrations and animated gifs of numerous celebrities including Cardi B for The Nation Magazine; Cecile Richards, Valerie Jarrett, London Breed for LENNY; Cartalk's Tom and Ray Magliozzi for NPR's yearly calendar; Michelle Obama for BUST Magazine; Serena Williams for ESPN; Jackie Robinson, Ella Fitzgerald, Denzel Washington, Chadwick Boseman and Rob Morgan for ESPN's The Undefeated; Brian and Jamie Stelter, Gary Janetti and Brad Goreski, John Legend and Chrissy Teigen, Lena Dunham and Jack Antonoff, Bill and Melinda Gates, Carmelo and La La Anthony, Colette Butler and Shay Carl, Chris Hughes and Sean Eldridge, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West for The New York Times. Bertman is a 2017/18 AICAD Fellow recipient. American Idiot producer Laurence Kaye commissioned a signed/numbered limited edition series of 10 prints in celebration of American Idiot's opening night on Broadway. Bertman is currently Assistant Professor of Illustration and Visual Narrative at Lesley University College of Art + Design.
