TANIA SAIZ

My work represents a journey of rebuilding and recalibrating to arrive where I am today. As a neurodivergent artist living with a brain injury, I'm familiar with setbacks and also the act of embracing the perfection of imperfection.   The repetition of patterns is something I find soothing. I can see where my attention ebbs and flows depending on what time of day I work on a piece. It may not be visible to others, but I appreciate the small nuances that catch how I am feeling. My work is accessible and inspirational to those in the brain injury community and to all who appreciate the obstacles I showcase through my art.

​In 2020, life changed. While visiting my daughter in Colorado, I had a stroke - you can read about the impact in my Bio. A significant cornerstone of my journey has been the mindfulness practice through the LoveYourBrain foundation.

In May 2023, I attended a 5-day retreat for people impacted by brain injury, focusing on the benefits of mindfulness, movement, nutrition, art, and community building. It was my first time in 3 years working on a mask project using both hands. In a moment of extreme vulnerability, I publicly shared the work in my "Concussion Sketchbook" for the first time during the final evening's talent show. With Terrapin Station playing in the background, the following prose accompanied my presentation:

I am not an artist. I went to art school, but I am not an artist. Instead, I’ve been
hiding behind the mask of a marketer for 20+ years (do not do the math!). I’m no
longer a marketer - professionally. It took a stroke and a concussion for me to
become an artist.

I started by painting shapes, outlining them, and finally filling them in with patterns. It was small, quiet, and meditative - just one pattern at a time. If I make one painting a day, it's more than enough.

Tania Saiz graduated with her BFA in Art History from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design in 1995. While she began at Mass Art as a Jewelry and Metalsmithing major, she experienced the wonders of glassblowing, bronze casting, welding, and photography - ultimately deciding to focus on art history to feed her curious mind and leave her options for mediums wide open.

After graduation, creative expression took many nontraditional pathways - weaving fresh eyes and an artistic perspective into every aspect of her 22+ year marketing career in educational publishing. In 2006, sparked by the opportunity to launch an employee-artist gallery space at her office, Tania actively exhibited her work across Westchester, including shows at the Croton Council for the Arts, Rogue Space in Croton-on-Hudson, and the Small Works and Photography Takes Over shows at the Upstream Gallery in 2008.

In 2020, Tania survived an ischemic stroke that cognitively hampered her creativity. Physically, it impacted her left side, leaving her with no/limited sensation from her shoulder down to her foot - significantly impacting her ability to work with both hands. In May of 2023, a mild concussion opened a doorway to creative play, and for the first time since the stroke, thanks to fantastic porch weather and a two-month break from all technology, she created.
​
Tania chose Arteza Real Brush Pens and a partial set of found Copic markers to start her concussion sketchbook. Tania's previous work was more 3-dimensional, so she had limited experience with these materials. The process was sometimes further challenged due to visual processing issues, another residual impact from the brain injury. Instead of becoming frustrated, Tania embraced this, sometimes painting with glasses and other times letting her naked eye guide things. Being in the moment and accepting that lines would not always meet up proved to be freeing. She'd do her best, knowing it was much more than she'd been capable of three years ago.

​Tania lives with her family and service dog Stevie Nicks in White Plains, NY. Her work expresses joy in perfect imperfections and the understanding that it's okay when things do not go as planned.