Love Frequency with Lauren Bergman and Ed Lederman

They may be the quintessential Hudson Valley art couple. She is a painter whose luminous works explore female identity amid an ever-evolving cultural and political landscape. He is a noted architectural and portrait photographer who has chronicled the design and construction of renowned buildings, including the Whitney Museum, and has revealed the depth of dozens of notables, from Bill and Hillary Clinton and J.K. Rowling to Mandy Patinkin to Pussy Riot.

In 2020, Lauren Bergman and Ed Lederman were part of the great COVID-19 exodus from New York City. Today, they share a splendid home and cozy, side-by-side workspaces that art lovers can explore every August during the annual Saugerties Artists Studio Tour. 

A native of the Washington, D.C., metro area, Bergman may be best known for “Lives Eliminated, Dreams Illuminated,” a series of 24 soul-stirring paintings that imagine the lives and dreams of young girls lost during the Holocaust. These works are now on view at Mana Contemporary in Jersey City, alongside musical compositions for each by Ella Milch Sheriff and an educational component. Her work has been profiled in publications ranging from The New York Times to Juxtapoz Magazine.

For Ed Lederman, the dramatic cityscape of the Big Apple has been his primary muse and subject. The Empire State Building, Coney Island, Central Park, and the NYC skyline are principal stars in his creative galaxy. His sharp, dramatic photos of these and more have been exhibited in long-term installations in the lobbies of 7 Bryant Park and Chelsea’s Tria Gallery, among others. In 2015, Ed was invited to be the first photographer since 9/11 to capture the NYC Marathon from the top of the Verrazzano Bridge, an image that became the cover of the 50th-anniversary book chronicling the event. Ed is also a first-call photographer covering prestigious events such as the annual PEN American Center Gala. His work has appeared in Time Magazine, The New York Times, and in multiple Taschen books. 

Read on to find out more about these compulsive creatives.

LOVE FREQUENCY

The First Spark

Ed Lederman: We met in September 2005 at a Starbucks, which is funny because I don’t drink coffee. I had just come up from the Christopher Street subway, and it was pouring, so I ran inside to get out of the rain. Lauren did the same—she was on her way to a birthday party and ducked in for cover.

A woman ahead of us in line was upset about her order, and Lauren and I looked at each other and laughed. It was a small, shared moment, but it felt like a connection right away. There was only one empty seat, so I asked if she wanted to sit with me. We started talking and completely lost track of time. We talked for hours. She never made it to the birthday party. I called her the next day, and when she said she’d be busy for the next couple of weeks, I figured that was that—and I actually threw out her number. I didn’t expect to feel that disappointed. The next day, she called, and that was the moment it hit me: this is possible!

Lauren Bergman: The charming Rob Reiner version of how we met was in a very picturesque West Village coffee shop. I was heading to a birthday party in Jersey City. At that point, in my 17 years in the city, I had never taken the PATH train or been to Jersey City. I was wandering around looking for the train entrance when a torrential downpour started. I ran into the closest place, behind a man carrying a lot of camera equipment. He nabbed the very last open table and, seeing me look around in hopelessness, gestured for me to have a seat.

I then got online, and the camera guy was behind me—no eye contact, no talking. When we got close to the front of the line, the woman in front of me had a meltdown! She was screaming at the barista, saying he had gotten her order wrong. Then she threw the drink past the server’s head, and it splashed all over the wall. At that point, I turned to the camera guy behind me, and we looked at each other in shock. Had we not been standing in line behind a sociopath, we might never have started talking.

Back at the table, as the rain continued, we talked about the normal, boring things strangers talk about. Then I asked him his astrological sign and birthday. It was very random and not something I normally did. A few days earlier, I had been playing hooky on the beach with friends, and someone had brought an astrology book that focused on relationship pairings based on your sun sign. On a scale of 1–10, the book described how there are four or five days that are a 9 in compatibility. By this time, I knew the camera guy’s name was Ed and that his birthday was March 20. I responded that he was in my fewest days of highest compatibility. Ed then looked me square in the face and said yes, but maybe I wasn’t in his days of highest compatibility. I found this so perverse and hilarious that I probably blew coffee out of my nose! The idea that we might all be running around in a universe of non-reciprocation struck me as wildly comic. I was smitten.

Inside the Partnership

Lauren Bergman: What works very well in our relationship is that we are both extremely driven in our creative work; I am trying to fix the world, and Ed is trying to document it. I never feel pressured to be in the studio, and I am okay with Ed working at any hour of the day or night. I know we always find our way back together. We are each other’s extra eyes. We frequently ask for feedback on any issues that crop up in what we are working on. We have both developed strong senses of composition, color balance, and the emotional impact of an image, whether it is a photograph or a painting, and we are each other’s best (well, at least most frequent) critic. 

Ed Lederman: What drew me to Lauren—besides everything else—was that we were both pursuing our first choices in life, each with its own successes and challenges. There is our work, uncertainty, and problem-solving, but underneath it all, there’s a constant joy. We inspire each other simply by showing up for the work we love. Being in this relationship has me focused on my photography in a new way.

I think what Lauren and I cherish most is that we’re both doing the thing we love—and for each of us, that isn’t a hobby or a phase, it’s a way of being. Creativity isn’t something we switch on and off; it’s woven into how we live our lives.

From the inside, our partnership feels alive and solid. We deeply respect each other’s work and don’t step into the details—who it’s for, how it’s made, or where it’s headed—unless one of us asks. That trust matters. It lets each of us stay true to our own voice while feeling fully supported.

Our styles are very different. Our processes are different. We approach creativity in our own ways. What we share is the core: we don’t quit, we move forward with intention, and we genuinely love the journey. For us, the real celebration is simple and meaningful—we’re both doing what we’re meant to do, and we get to witness that in each other every day.

What Still Inspires

Ruth Zimmermannova (left) and Liliane Paulette Buschel (right) by Lauren Bergman

Ed Lederman: One of the things that continues to inspire me about Lauren is how she paints the feminine—not just the form, but the experience, the story, and the depth of her subjects. She’s dedicated to telling women’s stories, and in doing so, she reveals what’s important about her own. I’m not surprised she’s always working on new stories or seeing her subjects in the best light—she’s built that into her routine. What still gets me is how seriously she takes it. She works every day, in a structured way, but life goes on after work—and somehow it all just flows. Being around her has made me more disciplined, which is just one of the great things about this partnership.

Lauren Bergman: Ten years ago, Ed decided that, in addition to his busy photography career, he wanted to become a coach. It was a very intense year of study and training for him, but I watched him bloom and flourish in an entirely new way. I am impressed and in awe of how many people Ed has helped move forward in their creative careers, reinvent their purpose and business, and find greater productivity and satisfaction in their lives. He is a calm, massive tree of a person; deeply rooted and unfazed by life’s weather upheavals, growing upward. I am “phased” by many things; tossed, blown, and lit on fire by personal and world events. Somehow, we balance each other.

Grounded in the Hudson Valley

Photos by Ed Lederman

Ed Lederman: I still spend about half my time in the city with a busy photography schedule, which has made me much more conscious of the time Lauren and I spend together and more intentional about it. Living in the Hudson Valley has also pushed me to plan my assignments more thoughtfully, though the weather sometimes has its own agenda. One cool bonus has been shooting locally and even picking up a client here, making the Valley feel both like home and part of my creative life.

Lauren Bergman: I think because we do spend a lot of time apart (Ed in the city and me up here), the time together feels special; doing mundane, routine stuff is elevated because we are in the same space – I have a bit of a giddy feeling “oh look, it’s YOU, and you’re HERE!” By the time that fades and we are getting on each other’s nerves, he has to go back to the city anyway.

The Art of Autonomy (and Togetherness)

Collab: Oil paint on photographs printed on distressed steel by Lauren Bergman + Ed Lederman

Ed Lederman: Lauren and I both value autonomy, and it’s not something either of us has to struggle to protect. She’s full-time up here and deeply connected to the local artist community, and she’s been generous about bringing me into that world. Through one of her friends, I taught a class at Saugerties High School, and at the Bob Weir tribute, I ran into another friend and ended up talking about a project we were both genuinely excited about.

What makes it work creatively is a simple rule: no advice, no critique, no “you should” unless it’s asked for. Giving each other that space keeps us independent, creative, and, honestly, sane. It also means we come back to each other with stories—things to talk about, laugh about, and stay curious about over dinner.

Our love mostly shows up in the everyday rhythms of life—sometimes quietly, sometimes amid the chaos of figuring out what we’re doing that day. I’ve even made a deliberate choice to go to bed when Lauren does, just to have a few moments together, no matter what else happened. Sometimes it’s a trip to the local movie theater, live music in Woodstock, an art opening, or a long walk that turns into an even longer one. It’s not about big gestures—it’s about paying attention, being present, and finding real joy in the middle of everyday life.

Lauren Bergman: I came to the Hudson Valley in September of 2020, the height of Covid, desperate for space, air, and green. Ed, as Woody Allen says, was “at two with nature” and had zero interest in leaving the city. I had been growing a vegetable garden on the roof of our building for several years and had become obsessed with the concept of land and growing things. Having just sold a collection of paintings, I was able to buy a house that ticked all our boxes; primarily, that it’s rural enough for me, and close enough for Ed to come up from the city easily. I felt at home and found community quickly. I had a lot of trepidation about whether I would find friends up here, but it has been the greatest experience to find so many welcoming, interesting, and accomplished people with whom I now have deep bonds. And my garden is epic!

The Love Frequency Speed Round

INSIDE+OUT: Sweet or Savory?

Ed Lederman: Definitely sweet — dark, milk, or white chocolate will do.

Lauren Bergman: Sweet. We are both black-and-white cookie fanatics (Adam’s are the best up here).

Hugs or kisses?

Lauren Bergman: Long, complexly entangled hugs.

Ed Lederman: Hugs right now, though it’s been a mix through our life together.

Early mornings or late nights?

Ed Lederman: In the Hudson Valley, early mornings. In NYC, late nights.

Lauren Bergman: I can no longer function late at night. Ed is up for both.

Summer or winter in the Hudson Valley?

Ed Lederman: Neither. I prefer spring.

Lauren Bergman: I reserve the right to complain about both, but I still love them. Ed says if I complain about one, I cannot complain about the other.

Your forever food?

Ed Lederman: Seeded watermelon.

Lauren Bergman: Ed’s garlic popcorn — I live for it.

A smell that feels like home?

Ed Lederman: Maple syrup on pancakes.

Lauren Bergman: Fresh lavender from the garden.

A song you both love on repeat?

Both: Grateful Dead, Eyes of the World

One small thing your partner does that means everything to you?

Ed Lederman: When I get to watch her paint.

Lauren Bergman: Ed brings me a mug of tea at night without me even asking.

Photos courtesy of Lauren Bergman and Ed Lederman

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Contributing writer Sal Cataldi is a musician, writer and former publicist living in Hudson Valley NY.