A six-foot tall rainbow ice pop drips on the floor at Delta’s new Sky Club at LAX. It’s called Happiness on a Stick and is a creation of Palm Springs pop artist Betsy Enzensberger.
The realistic pops have gained worldwide attention. ”It reminds people of the good times,” Enzensberger says. “It’s our first sweet taste that brings back fun memories as a kid. The joyful moments.”
Susan Nicole Gibbs, curator for Delta’s new Sky Club, agrees. “I noticed the pops at an art fair in New York,” she says. “I saw these miniature popsicle sculptures — they were clever, nostalgic and whimsical. They spoke to every age, children and adults.” Gibb adds, “They can walk around it, touch it, enjoy it, as opposed to something flat and static on the wall.”
Enzenserger’s day starts at 6:45am, at her studio in Cathedral City, when she puts on her respirator and headphones and gets to work while listening to True Crimes.
“It’s a dirty, physical and sweating process,” she says. “I use drills, saws, and sanders to shape my works, which are all made from different types of resin.”
Enzensberger’s inspiration for sculpture came after seeing renowned sculptor Eric Johnson’s work in resin at a gallery. She studied with her mentor for four years, learning how to sculpt with resin, and began selling her works in 2016. Johnson says, “She’s almost obnoxiously positive. She was the best student I’ve ever had, worked hard, and was a tireless learner. She also has a great sense of humor, and always kept me laughing.” He adds, “A natural talent.”
Pam Brown, an art collector who owns more than 20 pieces of Enzensberger’s work, says, “The first time I saw her work was a ‘wow moment,’ an emotional jolt of endorphins, making me smile.” Brown adds, “Her pieces stand out over others who make similar works because her skill and design level is high.” She also describes
Enzensberger as an approachable and caring person. “She’s the whole bag.”
Galleries around the country, including Los Angeles, Miami, Des Moines, Dallas, Charlotte, and New York, and internationally in Hong Kong, London, Stockholm, Belgium, Hamburg, and Australia have exhibited her ice pops, and she also sells her works online.
Born and raised on Long Island, NY, Enzensberger studied abstract art and molecular biology at Tulane University in New Orleans. “My father wanted me to take biology because he felt art wasn’t a real subject, but I couldn’t take myself away from my creative side. In the end I combined both art and science. Every day is a scientific experiment when it comes to resin.” After graduating she moved to Munich for two
years, traveling around Europe with her German husband, before moving to LA where she sold her abstract paintings before changing to ice pop sculptures.
She moved to the desert a year ago, during the pandemic. “I came for a weekend and didn’t want to leave,” she says. “I love the people, the wind and the mountains. It’s a magical place.”
Although successful, she still remains accessible to her clients and other artists. “I overcame some personal struggles. This resulted in me having gratitude for everything in my life,” she says, and explains the popularity of her art during the pandemic as, “People wanted joyful art; they wanted something to make them happy.”’
And what’s next? Enzensberger’s next artistic goal is to incorporate American hot rod cars into her ice pops. We can’t wait!
Betsy Enzensberger
www.betsyenzensberger.com
