Wendy Goldberg

Connect: wendylgoldberg@gmail.com, LinkedIn

Position: Artist, wendygoldbergart.com

College and Class Year: College of Architecture, Art, and Planning, 1974

Tell us about what you're doing with your life, including what brought you to the Bay Area.

I’m a professional artist, still actively creating artwork for exhibitions and for sale. I came to California many years ago — hitchhiking from Michigan with my best friend after my mother passed away. My sister was living here at the time, and the Bay Area quickly became a place of healing, inspiration, and new beginnings.

In what ways have you stayed connected with Cornell since graduating?

I stay connected by reading the alumni newsletter and keeping in touch with fellow Cornellians—both here on the West Coast and back East. Last year, I reached out to Cornell after noticing they were using art on their wine labels, and I was thrilled when several of my pieces were selected for their 2024 wines!

If you could go back to your years on the Hill - what one piece of advice would you share with that younger version of you?

Trust that things will work out—but be practical, too. Find a solid job to complement your art career. I’ve worked in a variety of roles to supplement my income, and that flexibility has allowed me to keep creating while paying the bills.

What was the most important class, club or connection made while at Cornell that has been important in your career (or life) journey?

My fellow artists were the heart of my Cornell experience. Our fine arts cohort was small and close-knit, and the friendships and creative energy we shared continue to shape my work today. The dramatic Ithaca landscape was also deeply influential—its beauty and mood are seminal in much of what I’ve drawn and created since.