Gustave Liljestrom was born in Stockholm, Sweden, and moved to the United States at age 22 in 1902. He and his brother first began American life as copper miners in Arizona. Gustave was inspired by the Southwest to become a painter.

He moved to Chicago and attended the Art Institute of Chicago. After Chicago, he spent some time in China studying Chinese painting, sculpture and architecture. In 1909, Liljestrom worked as a designer and Oriental expert for Gump's in San Francisco. In the 1930's, he began a series of exhibitions which included Edgar Payne, Armin Hansen, William Ritschell, Arthur Hill Gilbert, William Wendt and himself. He was member of the Bohemian Club and the Society for Sanity in Art.
Source: AskArt; Artists in California 1786 - 1940, Edan Milton Hughes, 3d ed.