Gail Reynolds Natzler

Gail Reynolds Natzler, a vibrant spirit whose life was a testament to beauty and discovery, passed away peacefully on April 9, 2025, just shy of her 85th birthday, after a short illness. Gail's journey was marked by creativity, adventure, and an enduring love for those around her.
Gail swam with the nationally selected "American Aquacade" Team which exhibited synchronized swimming in several European countries and at the Olympics in Rome in 1960. In 1960-61, she studied in Vienna, Austria, coordinated and swam with the first international synchronized swimming exhibition in Austria, and traveled to photograph throughout parts of Europe, Asia and the Middle East. She was the only student member of the press photographic corps for the Kennedy-Khrushchev conference in Vienna.
In 1963, Gail graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with concentrations in European Literature, Political Science and Anthropology. She also became a schoolteacher in LA City Schools while enrolled in evening classes in drawing, painting, sculpture and ceramics at Otis Art Institute and at UCLA from 1964 - 1972. Sculpture was an early creative passion, along with jewelry making, drawing and painting. But Photography became her main artistic pursuit.
Gail and the world-renowned ceramicist, Otto Natzler, married in 1973, sharing a life enriched by artistic collaboration and exploration. Her passion for photography was not just a hobby but a profound extension of her essence, enabling her to eternalize the intricate beauty of the world and the timeless work of Otto and his predeceased wife, Gertrud. Perhaps Gail's greatest legacy is her photography of the remarkable glaze surfaces Otto created and the processes of his work. She exhibited her photos at more than 20 museums and galleries from 1977 to 1993, usually alongside Gertrud and Otto's ceramics. Thousands of photographs remain as a cherished legacy, capturing moments of beauty and the exquisite art that surrounded her.
Los Angeles was home, but the world was her canvas. Gail's travels took her to incredible places, where she found joy and inspiration, and she surrounded herself with friends and loved ones who were fortunate to share in her luminous presence.
Gail Reynolds Natzler will be remembered for her passion for capturing the essence of beauty, her dedication to uplifting the art of Otto and Gertrud Natzler, and her unwavering commitment to celebrating the joys of life.
A celebration of Gail's life will take place at 10 AM on Monday, October 27, 2025, at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Studio City, located at 12355 Moorpark St., Studio City, CA 91604. Friends and family are invited to join in person or virtually, to honor a life beautifully lived. A link to the virtual service may be requested from CelebrateGailNatzler@gmail.com