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Artist Statement My work reflects a journey of rebuilding, recalibrating, and arriving at the present moment. As a neurodivergent artist living with a brain injury, I am intimately familiar with setbacks—but also with embracing the beauty of imperfection. I find comfort in the repetition of patterns and often notice how my attention shifts throughout the day as I engage with a piece. While these nuances may not be visible to others, they capture subtle reflections of my mood and mindset. My art is meant to be both accessible and inspirational, resonating with the brain injury community and anyone who appreciates the challenges and triumphs it represents.
In 2020, everything changed. While visiting my daughter in Colorado, I experienced a stroke—you can read more about the impact in my Bio. A cornerstone of my recovery has been practicing mindfulness through the LoveYourBrain Foundation. In May 2023, I attended a five-day retreat for people impacted by brain injury, focusing on mindfulness, movement, nutrition, art, and community. For the first time in three years, I worked with both hands on a mask project. In a deeply vulnerable moment, I shared this work in my Concussion Sketchbook during the final evening’s talent show. With Terrapin Station playing in the background, I accompanied the presentation with these words: 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. Each pattern is a small act of presence, a way to reconnect with my body and my mind after the stroke. The repetition is soothing, almost like a conversation with myself, tracing where my attention drifts and returns throughout the day. These quiet moments become a reflection of my inner state—sometimes precise, sometimes wandering—but always true to where I am in the moment.
Through this process, I’ve come to appreciate the subtle nuances in my work: the small imperfections, the gentle asymmetries, the spaces that reveal both struggle and progress. My art is a record of recovery and a celebration of resilience, reminding us that beauty can emerge from even the most difficult experiences. |
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BioTania Saiz graduated with a BFA in Art History from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design in 1995. Originally a Jewelry and Metalsmithing major, she explored glassblowing, bronze casting, welding, and photography before choosing art history, a path that satisfied her curiosity while keeping her creative options open.
After graduation, Tania channeled her artistic perspective into a 22-year career in marketing for educational publishing. In 2006, she launched an employee-artist gallery at her office and began actively exhibiting her work in Westchester, including shows at the Croton Council for the Arts, Rogue Space in Croton-on-Hudson, and the Upstream Gallery. In 2020, Tania survived an ischemic stroke that affected both cognitive and physical abilities, leaving her with limited sensation on her left side and impairing her ability to work with both hands. In May 2023, a mild concussion unexpectedly reopened the door to creative expression. Taking a break from technology and inspired by perfect porch weather, she began creating again. Her Concussion Sketchbook started with Arteza Real Brush Pens and a partial set of found Copic markers—tools unfamiliar to her after years focused on 3D work. Despite visual processing challenges and the lingering effects of her stroke, she embraced imperfection, painting sometimes with glasses, sometimes without, and found freedom in letting go of precision. What mattered most was that she was creating again. |
Tania lives in White Plains, NY, with her family and service dog, Stevie Nicks. Her work celebrates the beauty of imperfection, the joy of embracing the unexpected, and the resilience found in creativity.