Marie Bergstedt is an 80-year-old American multimedia artist based in San Francisco who specializes in fiber art portraits. Growing up in Vicksburg, Michigan, Bergstedt was shuffled back and forth between her young birth mother and a foster home. In the absence of a traditional family structure and as a means to escape her unhappy childhood, Bergstedt learned to work with her hands to sew, crochet, and knit. These skills allowed her to earn an income, as well as express her interest in people and families. It was during her childhood that Bergstedt discovered her desire to become an artist.