I believe joy is a super power in a world that wants to dim your light. I create art that connects you to your inner vibrancy.

New collection.

My paintings are bold, abstract expressions of joy, created to energize and uplift. Through vibrant colors and layered textures, I explore the emotional impact of color and movement. Each piece is a visual reminder that joy is a powerful, necessary force in our everyday lives.

Ebru #1 Ebru #1
Ebru #1
$1,100.00
Shibori #79 Shibori #79
Shibori #79
$1,100.00
Shibori #85 Shibori #85
Shibori #85
$1,100.00

About

MARY ZERAN is a contemporary abstract painter based out of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

My work is rooted in the belief that joy is a form of resistance.

In a world that often asks us to shrink, dim, or disconnect from ourselves, I create art that does the opposite—it reignites, expands, and remembers. Through bold color, layered texture, and abstract form, I make work that reconnects people with their vibrancy—the part of them that still feels curious, alive, and full of possibility.

My materials and process mirror this emotional landscape. I paint on transparent polyester film using fluid acrylics, letting color slide, pool, and collide on uneven surfaces. The result is organic, expressive, and intuitive—compositions that are less about telling a literal story and more about creating a feeling. A reminder. A spark.

Because your light was never lost.

It just needed something to reflect it back.

  • A colorful abstract painting hangs above a light wooden console with woven front panels, decorated with a white vase holding cotton stems, a small copper container, and a white dish on top, in a minimalist room.
  • A pink velvet armchair with a black decorative pillow, next to a side table with pink flowers. A colorful abstract painting hangs on a black wall behind the chair, beside a window with black and white floral curtains.
  • Abstract colorful painting with green, orange, blue, and white streaks and dots hanging on a light gray wall above a wooden shelf, decorated with a white seashell sculpture, a starfish, and a wicker vase with dried plants.
  • Modern dining area with a white round table, two blue upholstered chairs with light wooden legs, a blue glass vase with dried plants, and a blue abstract painting on a light-colored wall.
  • Interior room with a dark gray wall, abstract blue and white painting, white marble table with slim metal frame, three potted green plants, and a black book with a gold book underneath on the table.

Testimonials

I am obsessed with Mary's art. I always talk about it to friends and family. I’m lucky enough to have two of her pieces and they bring me such joy everyday.

-Kayla Hesseltine

My husband and I have always loved Mary Zeran’s paintings—the bright happy colors, the joyous spontaneity, and the intriguing abstract concepts. When we moved into our new home, her painting is one of the first things our guests see, to rave reviews."

​-Jill and Tim Gustin

The moment I saw a Mary Zeran art piece, I knew I had to have one. It made me smile and feel instantly happy. Her vibrant colors and beautiful compositions stir something joyful inside me. That’s what art should do—move you emotionally—and Mary’s work does exactly that. I now have multiple pieces in my home and another in my office. It brings me joy every single day.

-Debra Kiwala