MaryJane Sarvis

MaryJane Sarvis is an artist based in Shaftsbury, Vermont, exploring the intersections of semiotics and texture. In mixed mediums of printmaking, painting, dyeing, and assemblage, Sarvis blurs the boundaries between fine art and ritual. 

Graduating from Bennington College in 1979, Sarvis has spent decades as a working artist. Her work has appeared in the collections of notable figures such as Cecil Taylor, Oprah Winfrey, Carly Simon, and Isabella Rossellini. Critics have described Sarvis’ work as “information veiled with color, texture, and symbolism from across space and time”, a testament of her ability to interweave diverse artistic and spiritual wisdoms. 

MaryJane has been featured in Essence Magazine and Bill Cunningham’s celebrated New York Times column. 

• Turtledove Award for Wearable Art, Philadelphia Museum Craft Show, Philadelphia, PA. 1993
• Honorable Mention for “Deco Fan Throw”; Stratton Arts Festival, Stratton, VT. 1992
• First Prize for Exhibition, Mayport Jazz & Arts Festival; Jacksonville, FL. 1982
• Surface Design Journal Vol.17 No.3 “Silk Painting Revisited”
  

Industry Experience

With fabric as canvas and nature as inspiration, Mary Jane Sarvis

creates objects of vertu—that elusive quality of rare and curious

beauty. Acclaimed for over 40 years for her innovative design and

silk painting, Mary Jane began her printmaking investigations as a student

at Bennington College. From there, she went on to design for clients

as diverse as Burton Snowboards, Carly Simon, Diane Sawyer, Mike

Nichols, Oprah Winfrey, Maya Angelou, Charlie Watts, Annette

Bening, Jewel, Susan Taylor, Faye Wattleton, Bill Gates, Dame Maggie Smith, Nora Ephron, Isabella Rossellini, Dame Elizabeth Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, Courtney

Love, Linda Ellerbee, Star Jones, Tipper Gore, Lily Tomlin, Princess

Michael of Kent, Cecil Taylor, Beaver Harris, Steven Tyler and more.

As demand for her exquisite artwear grew and with her interest in a

variety of diverse directions, Mary Jane was called to create a space

for her work to thrive. So, she built her post and beam studio. This

space became Infinity Vermont.

Painting, printmaking, fashion, and anthropology unite in a

cornucopia of projects taking shape within Mary Jane’s bustling

studio. Using ancient archetypal symbols, tribal patterns, and the

natural world, each piece—from the smallest evening bag to the largest tapestry—is created with the greatest care and attention to

detail. The overall effect is a fusion of timeless cultures.

Inspired by Fortuny’s rediscovery of the textiles of the Renaissance

artisans (layering metallic inks on fabric through block printing),

Mary Jane developed her own process of painting on fabrics, ranging

from the sheerest silks to the most luscious velvets.

As an artist and designer, Mary Jane has promoted the notion of a

working collaborative devoted to altruism, progress, and form. She

is distinguished by her ability to work collectively with other artists

to more fully cultivate her aesthetic.

Throughout the years, Mary Jane has refined her techniques, honing

them to a systematic science which is solely Mary Jane.

Connect with MaryJane

For inquiries about commissions, collaborations, or to discuss MaryJane’s work, please reach out directly.