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abstract, expressionist, gestural, colorful, dynamic, vibrant, bold, funky, rhythmic, bright, dramatic, layered, textured, collage, energetic, contemporary artist -
- Biography
Mary Zeran grew up in a family of women artists. Textiles, embroidery, and woodcarving, were their visual language. Abstracted shapes and forms were their words. Each time Zeran picks up a brush or scissors, she immerses herself in the language of her family. As she abstracts flowers, trees, and all the colors of nature, she speaks her mother tongue. This language brings her closer to her family’s traditions, histories, and stories.
Zeran has exhibited nationally and internationally in New York, Seattle, and Chang Mai, Thailand. Her work has been featured in group exhibitions including “Midwest Summer: Light and Warmth”, “Into the Blue” at Cedar Rapids Museum of Art in Cedar Rapids, IA, and “2019 DUMA Biennial” at Dubuque Museum of Art in Dubuque, IA. A forthcoming solo exhibit at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art in Cedar Rapids, IA will be announced for 2020. She has been reviewed in The Art Examiner, Seattle Post Intelligencer, Artweek, and Kolaj Magazine. Museum collections include The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY, and Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Cedar Rapids IA. Corporate collections include Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, EMC, Des Moines, IA, , Grafix Corporate Collection, Cleveland, OH, Grant Thorton, Chicago, IL, Human Services Building, Cedar Rapids, IA, Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids, IA, Newton Wellesley Hospital, Newton, MA, Raining Rose Corporate Collection, Cedar Rapids, IA, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, The Fallon Companies, Boston, MA, Southeast Iowa Community College, West Burlington, IA; and United Fire Group, Cedar Rapids, IA/ Los Angeles, CA.
Ms. Zeran is the recipient of an Oregon College of Arts and Crafts Residency, and a 2% for the Arts Purchase Prize from the Visual Arts Commission in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Mary Zeran was born in Iowa City, Iowa in 1964. She received her B.F.A. and M.F.A. from University of Iowa. She lives and works in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.Statement
Things that happen randomly or by accident...The idea of layers and transparency...Our ability to examine things up close...To work collaboratively with a material...Not forcing an outcome...Being present to the experience...Being in the Moment...
These pieces evolve over time. I paint on polyester film, cut out shapes, and then re-arrange them. The final interaction with the "objects” shape, is spontaneous and collaborative. Working this way, gives me the chance to be responsive to the random things that happen, to tap into my internal rhythms and way of being.Previous ExhibitionsVideoComing SoonPress - EDUCATION
1992 Professional Development, The University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
1991 M.F.A. The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
1988 B.F.A. The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2017 A Rainbow Colored Dream, Gilded Pear Gallery, Cedar Rapids, IA
2016 KACHOW!, Gilded Pear Gallery, Cedar Rapids, IA
2015 Full Throttle Color, Gilded Pear Gallery, Cedar Rapids, IA
2014 La Tierra de Mi Corazón, New Work by Mary Zeran, Gilded Pear Gallery, Cedar Rapids, IA
2014 JUICY! Black Hawk College, Moline, IL
2014 Living With Forces of Nature: All Things Beautiful, Center for Faith and Life, Luther College, Decorah, IA
2013 Mary Zeran: Made In Many Different Ways, Gilded Pear Gallery, Cedar Rapids, IA
2012 Mary Zeran Art Extravaganza, Gilded Pear Gallery, Cedar Rapids, IA
2012 Small Branch, Maquoketa Arts Experience, Maquoketa, IA
2011 Rivers, Clouds, and Wind, Cole Library, Cornell College, Mt Vernon, IA
2011 The Best of all Possible Worlds, The University of Iowa Hospitals, Iowa City, IA
1998 Ascension, SOIL, Seattle, WA
1997 The Source of it All, SOIL, Seattle, WA
1997 Treads and Threads, Public Safety Building Plaza, Seattle, WA
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2016 Funkytown, Urbano, Berkely, CA, curator Kimberly Rowe, 17 person exhibition
2016 Summer Invitational, Sherry Leedy Contemporary Art, Kansas City, MO, twenty person exhibit
2015 The Iowa Artists Purchase Exhibition, EMC , Des Moines, IA, seven person exhibit
2015 Pushed, Pulled, Shaped: Work that Reflects the Artists Spirit and Environment, Best Chicago Properties, Chicago, IL, three
person exhibit
2015 Midwest Summer: Light and Warmth, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Cedar Rapids, IA, curator Kate Kunau
2014 Spaces We Inhabit: Sculptures and Paintings by Alicia Forestall-Boehm, Emily Rutledge and Mary Zeran, Hairpin Arts Center,
Logan Square, Chicago, IL, three person exhibit
2014-2011 Drips and Daubs: Painters Zeran and Tollefson Explore Nature, Art Guild of Burlington, Burlington, IA, Maquoketa Art
Experience, Maquoketa, IA, Lowe Art Center, Marion, IA, Simpson College, Indianola, IA
2013 Contemporary Expressionism-The Creative Spirit, The San Diego Museum of Art Artists Guild, San Diego, CA, curator Derrick
Cartwright
2013 Some Assembly Required: Collage and Assemblage, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Cedar Rapids, IA, curator Sean Ulmer
2013 Three Person Exhibit, Art in the Airport, Quad City Airport, Rock Island, IL
2012 Lure of the Local, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Cedar Rapids, IA, curator Sean Ulmer
2011 What to Dip, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
1999 Here/ There, COCA, Seattle, WA
1998 Sutures and Other Handiwork, Kirkland Arts Center, Kirkland, WA
1998 Crossing the Border, Fisher Gallery and Annex, Cornish College of the Arts, Seattle, WA, curator Steven Micheal Vroom
1997 C.A.R.B.O, Artspace Gallery, Seattle, WA
1994 All That Is Solid Melts into Air…All that is Sacred is Profaned, Metropolis Gallery, Seattle, WA
1993 Off Course: Artist Installed 18 Hole Miniature Golf, COCA, Seattle, WA
1993 Pacific Northwest Annual Exhibition, Bellevue Art Museum, Bellevue, WA, curator Susan Biskeborn
1993 Personal Views in Jewelry and Metalsmithing, Muckenthaler Cultural Center, Fullerton, CA
1992 Silver: New Forms and Expressions, Fortunoff, New York, NY
1991 Chunghi Choo with Former and Present Students, Waterloo Museum of Art, Waterloo, IA
1990 Galeria Mesa National Metals Invitational, Galeria Mesa, Mesa, AZ
1990-1989 Silver: New Forms and Expressions, Fortunoff, New York, NY, The University of Iowa Museum of Art, Iowa City, IA, The National
Ornamental Metal Museum, Memphis, TN
1989 Divine Line, Galeria Mesa, Mesa, AZ
1988 The Wichita National All Media Crafts Exhibit, The Wichita Art Association, Wichita, KS
1986 Hanukkah and Other Jewish Lights, The Jewish Quarter, Beverly Hills, CA
CORPORATE COLLECTIONS AND AWARDS
US Cellular Center, 2% for the Arts, Cedar Rapids, IA
Canal One, Boston, MA
Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Cedar Rapids, IA
EMC, one of 7 artists selected for 2015 Sixth Biennial Art EMC Program, Des Moines, IA
First Bancorp, Southern Pines, NC
Grafix Corporate Collection, Cleveland, OH
Grant Thorton, Chicago, IL
Human Services Building, Cedar Rapids, IA
Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids, IA,
Kirkwood Community College, Coralville, IA
Manion, Gaynor & Manning, Miami, FL
Marion Arts Council, Marion, IA
Newton Wellesley Hospital, Newton, MA
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Raining Rose Corporate Collection, Cedar Rapids, IA
School of Art and Art History, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
The Fallon Companies, Boston, MA
The University of Iowa Hospitals, The University of Iowa, Iowa City IA
Southeast Iowa Community College, West Burlington, IA
Solomon McCown, Boston, MA
United Fire Group, Cedar Rapids, IA
United Fire Group, Los Angeles, CA
BIBLIOGRAPHY
"Culture Crawl 316 "Really Flat Sculptures", by Dennis Green, Jazz 88.3 KCCK Culture Crawl, Posted: Thur 10:10 AM, Dec 5, 2018
"Eastern Iowa Health Center Holds Grand Opening Celebration", by Samantha Myers, KCRG-TV9, Posted: Thur 8:56 PM, Oct 27, 2016, Updated: Thu 10:17 PM, Oct 27, 2016
"Eastern Iowa Health Center Undergoes Renovation", by KCRG-TV9 Staff, Posted: Thur 9:18 PM, Oct 13, 2016
"Assembling An Artful Home", Katie Mills Giorgio, The Gazette, April 24th 2016
"Full Throttle Color", Culture Crawl, Cedar Rapids, IA, December 3, 2015
"Full Throttle Color", Hoopla, Cedar Rapids, IA, December 3, 2015
"Midwest Summer: Light and Warmth" The Gazette, Cedar Rapids, IA, July 21, 2015
"Artist Mary Zeran Set to Unveil Latest Collage", RCreader, Quad City, IA, November 19, 2014
"Mary Zeran at Luther College", Christopher Byrne, Kolaj Magazine, Montreal, Canada, April 22, 2014
"All Things Beautiful: Mixed Media Collages by Mary Zeran on display April 2 - May 25, Decorah Newspapers, Decorah, IA, April 1, 2014
"The Cedar Rapids Museum of Art-Some Assembly Required Collage and Assemblage", The Daily Palette, Iowa City, IA, January 20, 2014
"Farnham to Showcase Work of Dena Tollefson and Mary Zeran", Simpson College News Center, Indianola, IA, January 17, 2014
"Some Assembly Required At Cedar Rapids Museum of Art", Kolaj Magazine, Montreal, Canada, October 19, 2013
“Have You Met…Mary Zeran?” Stephen B. MacInnis, Painter’s Progress Blog, October 13, 2013
“Paint the Music!”, Operahhh! Newlsetter of the Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre, Cedar Rapids, IA, December 2012
“Note-Worthy Art, Artist Mary Zeran ‘Paints the Music’ ”, Michael Bierne, Cedar Rapids NE Life, Cedar Rapids, IA, December 2012
“Painters Dena Tollefson Mary Zeran”, Art Talks with Bruce Carter WVIK Augustana College, 90.3FM Rock Island, Rock Island, IL June 3, 2012
Cover of The National Poetry Review, Los Angeles, CA, 2012
“Artist Mary Zeran “Small Branch: New Collage”, River Cities’ Reader, Dubuque, IA, February 17, 2012
“Dribs and Daubs: Painters Mary Zeran and Dena Tollefson Explore Nature”, River Cities’ Reader,
Dubuque, IA, September 22, 2011
"Whole Lotta Yellow!”, Elizabeth Sheppell, Elizabeth Sheppell Art Blog, Atlanta, GA, March 4, 2012
“Candide Program”, Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre, Cedar Rapids, IA, 2011
“Singin Songs of Springtime,” Bobby Wilson, The Hawkeye, Burlington, IA, April 17 2011
“The Best of,” Katie Mills Giorgio, The Gazette, Cedar Rapids, IA, April 9, 2011
“Mary Zeran”, Lorraine Glessner, Oh What A World, What a World, April 13, 2011
“Here and There’ at COCA,” Frances DeVuono, Artweek, Seattle, WA, September 1999
“Crossing the Border: Art and Fiber,” Jill Connor, wetSOFA, New York, NY, Sept/Oct 1999
“Sound Alternatives in Seattle,” Susan Platt, Art Papers, Seattle, WA, March/ April 1998
“Mary Zeran and Alex Emmons,” Jill Connor, The Art Examiner, New York, NY, September 1997
“Through the Eye of the Needle,” Soyon Im, Eastsideweek, Kirkwood, WA, August 27, 1997
“Sutures ad Other Handwork,” Diane Wright, The Herald, Kirkwood, WA, August 15, 1997
“Digging in Deeper, “ Greg Burkman, Art Access, Seattle, WA, March 1997
"A New Alternative”, L.R.A, REFLEX, Seattle, WA, March/April, 1994
“Miniature Golf Exhibit is a Hole-In –Wonder”, Regina Hackett, Seattle Post Intelligencer, Seattle, WA, 1993
“Annual Bellevue Art Museum Show Reveals Exceptional New Voices”, Regina Hackett Seattle Post Intelligencer, Seattle, WA, July 24, 1993
“Choo and Students: Waterloo Show”, Eliot Nusbaum, The Des Moines Register, Des Moines, IA 1992
“Visions, Concepts, Communication", David La Plantz, Jewelry/ Metalwork Survey, 1991
“Silver New Forms and Expression”, Janet Koplos, Metalsmith, Spring 1990
“Discover the UI Museum-an Abundance of Artistic Wealth”, Steve Cruse, The Daily Iowan, Iowa City, IA 1989
“Students Go For Gold With Silver”, Kanchalee Svetvilas, Iowa Press Citizen, Iowa City, IA, October 19, 1989
“Galeria Mesa Offers a Divine Line”, Evelyn Cooper, Arizona Republic, Mesa, AZ, September 15, 1989
“Modern Art Meets Ancient Tradition”, The Iowa Scene, Iowa City, IA, December 1986
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2016 Gallery Talk, Gilded Pear Gallery, Cedar Rapids, IA
2015 Gallery Talk, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Cedar Rapids, IA
2014 Golden Artist Educator Certification, New Berlin, NY
2014 Gallery Talk, Farnham Gallery, Simpson College, Indianola, IA
2013 Artist Talk, Marvin Cone Club, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Cedar Rapids, IA
2013 Visiting Artist, Clinton Community College, Clinton, IA
2012 Gallery Talk, Maquoketa Arts Experience, Maquoketa, IA
2012 Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre Artist in Residence
2012 Gallery Talk, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Cedar Rapids, IA
2012 Gallery Talk, Art Bites, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Cedar Rapids, IA
2010 Visiting Artist for Creative Connections, Cedar Rapids Museums of Art, Cedar Rapids, IA
1998 Visiting Artist, Center on Contemporary Art, Seattle, WA
1997 Visiting Artist, Cornish School of the Arts, Seattle, WA
1997 Visiting Artist, School of Art, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
1997 Co-founding Member, Soil, Seattle, WA
1992 Artist in Residence, Oregon School of Arts and Crafts, Portland, OR
1991 Teaching Assistant, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA