Explore California’s Fire Ecology with Poet, Painter and Naturalist Obi Kaufmann at the Malibu Library Speaker Series
The City of Malibu and LA County Library are proud to welcome acclaimed California poet, painter, and naturalist Obi Kaufmann as the next featured guest in the 2025 Malibu Library Speaker Series. The free event takes place on Tuesday, October 21, at 7:00 PM at the Malibu Library, and will include a Q&A with the author.
“Obi Kaufmann’s artistry and insight offer an inspiring and deeply Californian perspective on our connection to the natural world,” said Malibu Mayor Marianne Riggins. “His work encourages us reimagine our understand of fire as an integral part of the landscape we call home as well as a challenge to overcome.”
Kaufmann will discuss his latest book, “The State of Fire: Why California Burns,” a profound exploration of California’s relationship with wildfire. In it, Kaufmann asks, “How do we live with fire?” and reveals how this natural force, long seen as destructive, is essential to the Golden State’s ecological health and renewal.
Over the past decade, Kaufmann has authored six books in his award-winning “California Field Atlas” series, blending art, maps, and wildlife renderings with science-based, lyrical prose that celebrates the state’s diverse landscapes. His work offers a refreshingly hopeful vision for California’s future, emphasizing fire as a force of regeneration rather than apocalypse.