Gallery B is pleased to present its July exhibition, Saffron and Tea, featuring mixed media paintings by Saya Behnam. The exhibit be on display from July 12 – August 5 at Gallery B, located at 7700 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite E, Bethesda, MD. Gallery hours for the show will be Wednesday – Saturday, 12-6pm. A public reception for the exhibition will be held on Friday, July 14 from 6-8pm.

Sayeh “Saya” Behnam is a visual artist with more 20 years of experience. Born in Tehran, Iran, she currently lives and works in her studio in Northern Virginia. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Botany from Tehran University, and has taken several courses at the Corcoran School of Art in Washington, D.C. Behnam has exhibited in numerous group and solo exhibitions throughout the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. area and New York City. Most recently, she has held a solo exhibit at Artist's Proof Gallery in Washington, D.C. In 2015, Behnam was awarded an honorable mention at the HERMES Creative Awards, as well as a Bronze Spotlight Award from LACP.

Behnam uses such natural dry mediums as saffron, hibiscus, borage tea, henna and coffee to create her colors. These dried herbs and spices are steeped in hot water until they create the tones that she wishes to use. As she applies each color layer with Chinese brushes, a chemical interaction with the previous color layer occurs, creating further nuances of delicate tones. This process creates an element of uncertainty with all the possibilities of colors as they mix; yet the artist is in control as well.

Additionally, Behnam has extensive experience in digital design and has worked on numerous projects across a range of sectors including government, nonprofit and commercial organizations.

​From award-winning theatre to independent films, downtown Bethesda’s Arts & Entertainment District is filled with inspiring artists and art venues. The Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District is managed by the Bethesda Urban Partnership, Inc., and is the producer of The Trawick Prize: Bethesda Contemporary Art Awards, Bethesda Painting Awards, Bethesda Fine Arts Festival, Bernard/Ebb Songwriting Awards, Bethesda Film Fest, Play In A Day, and Studio