Rooted in a family history rich in textiles, my Shibori pieces are an homage to the enduring love for fabric passed down from my mother, a skilled maker, and my grandmother, a textile designer. Introduced to the Japanese tie dye technique called Shibori during my college years, I was captivated by its organic spontaneity, which now forms the essence of my artistic expression.

As an abstract artist, I immerse myself in a world where colors collide to create patterns that represent emotions. Through my practice of painting, I explore the interplay between form and texture.

In my paintings, slick, transparent polyester film and acrylic paint are my materials of choice. Working on an uneven surface, I allow the paint to slide and converge, yielding bold, swirling hues. Through color, I am able to express the full range of emotions.

My artistic process mirrors the spontaneity of human experience, capturing the essence of fleeting moments and ephemeral emotions. Through my work, I seek to challenge perceptions and redefine reality, inviting viewers to embrace the absurdity and exuberance of existence. These are not merely isolated moments frozen in time, but abstracted expressions of the intangible.

Mary Zeran (b. 1964, Iowa City, IA) creates places of happiness. Abstract paintings full of intense color and patterns suggesting the unknown. The artist holds a B.F.A. and M.F.A. in art from University of Iowa. Zeran’s collage work are shown internationally, with exhibitions at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Cedar Rapids, IA, SOIL Gallery, Seattle, WA, and Chiang Mai University in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Her work is in the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, NY, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Cedar Rapids, IA, U.S. Cellular Center, Cedar Rapids, IA, Harvard Business College, Boston, MA, and United Fire Group, Los Angeles, CA. Artist Residencies, and public commissions include Oregon College of Arts and Crafts Residency, and a 2% for the Arts Purchase Prize from the Visual Arts Commission in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Her work is included in the book "Chunghi Choo and Her Students", published b Arnoldsche, Stuttgart, Germany, The New Art Examiner, and Artweek, Seattle, WA. Zeran currently lives and works in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.