Janet Saryadegar has merged an ancient art form with a contemporary one, making subtle mosaics out of collaged imagery. Her subject matter references age old traditions of portraiture and still life, occasionally resembling the sublime moments depicted by masters like Vermeer. Like the original mosaic artists, Saryadegar carefully transitions between colors, giving viewers a heightened sense of shadow, light, and hue. The abstractedness that results from piecing together image fragment adds to the sublime gracefulness of Saryadegar’s work; the images seem as though they are in repose, merging with their surroundings.
 
Saryadegar, who was born and raised in Tehran, has been influenced by the aesthetic sensitivities of Persian culture. She also acutely understands the role art’s beauty can play as a refuge from traumatic situations, and her own work has all the tenderness of sanctuary. Janet Saryadegar has been an artist for over 25 years. She currently lives and works in El Granada, California.