Betsy Nathan - Founder and Creative Director, PAGODA RED
Betsy Nathan is the founder of PAGODA RED, a celebrated gallery and design destination that blends art, history, and storytelling through rare Chinese antiques, contemporary works, and soulful interiors. An expert in East Asian art and culture, Betsy launched PAGODA RED after living and studying in Beijing, an experience that sparked a lifelong passion for finding beauty in the layered, imperfect, and deeply meaningful.
Join us for lunch as Betsy shares the story behind her career journey, from life abroad to launching one of the most distinctive design galleries in the country. In this conversation, we’ll explore not just the evolution of PAGODA RED, but the evolution of Betsy herself, entrepreneur, curator, connector, and proud Mom to four boys.
With a background in Chinese language, Betsy founded PAGODA RED in 1997, inspired by the belief that our homes should tell stories and the objects inside them should hold a sense of soul. Over lunch, Betsy will speak candidly about taking bold leaps, building a brand that honors heritage while embracing reinvention, and the creative tension between being rooted and being restless.
This conversation will resonate with anyone navigating identity, reinvention, or the pull to make something deeply personal into something powerfully public.
The Story Behind the Style:
Explore how a life lived across cultures can shape creative expression—and fuel a global business.
Discover the origins of PAGODA RED and the values that continue to guide its evolution today.
Learn how Betsy has balanced artistic intuition with entrepreneurial grit—and where she finds inspiration now.
Reflect on your own narrative: What pieces of your story are waiting to be shared, reclaimed, or reframed?
Join us for this in-person event on Wednesday, October 30th at 11:45 am at Suite Escape in Lake Forest. You’ll leave feeling creatively recharged and newly inspired to see your personal story, and your surroundings, with fresh perspective.