MARY ZERAN
Location:
Cedar Rapids, IA, USA
ARTIST BIO
Mary Zeran (b. 1964, Iowa City, IA) is a third-generation artist who creates 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 the Oregon College of Arts and Crafts Residency and a 2% 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 by Arnoldsche, Stuttgart, Germany, The New Art Examiner, and Artweek, Seattle, WA.
Zeran currently lives and works in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
ARTIST STATEMENT
As an abstract artist, I immerse myself in a world where colors collide to create patterns and emotions. Through my practice of painting, I explore the interplay between form and texture, inviting viewers into a realm where the ordinary transforms into the extraordinary.
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 that traverse the spectrum of emotion. Through color, I create narratives that transcend conventional storytelling.
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, inviting us to explore the depths of our own imagination and curiosity.
www.maryzeran.com
IG: @maryzeran
