Maryam Bayat: Unrolling Paradise
Opening March 14, 2026, 12pm – 3pm
On view March 14, 2026 – August 16, 2026
Presented by California Center for the Arts, Escondido in Collaboration with Persian Place
The California Center for the Arts, Escondido presents Unrolling Paradise, an exhibition by interdisciplinary artist Maryam Bayat that examines the Persian garden as a living design tradition carried through textiles, memory, and everyday objects. Working at the intersection of craft and design, Bayat transforms traditional Persian rugs into sculptural forms, including furniture, abstract trees, and domestic structures that reflect on place and belonging.
Raised in Tehran in a family of rug producers and now based in North County San Diego, Bayat draws from inherited craft knowledge to reinterpret a visual language shaped by symmetry, geometry, and floral pattern. In Persian culture, gardens are often understood as earthly representations of paradise; their ordered layouts are reflected in the design of carpets, which have historically functioned as portable sanctuaries that brought the idea of paradise into the home. Bayat extends this lineage, connecting the symbolism of the garden to personal and collective memory.
This exhibition builds on the Museum’s growing partnership with Persian Place, a Carlsbad-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to celebrating Persian art and culture through inclusive, multicultural programs that foster cross-cultural understanding and community connection.
The public opening will coincide with Nowruz – Persian New Year, co-presented with Persian Place on March 14, 2026, from 12–3 PM at the Museum.
While many Persian organizations across the United States have chosen to cancel programs in response to the current situation in Iran, the Museum and Persian Place remain committed to honoring Nowruz, a tradition that has endured for thousands of years and continues to hold deep cultural meaning for the community.
Program highlights include:
- Women’s Artisan Market featuring over 15 vendors
- “A Journey to Persia” art and craft workshop series
- Live performance and music
- Kids exhibition
- Free admission
The Museum partnered with Persian Place in March 2025 to present a Nowruz program that welcomed more than 850 attendees from across North County, reflecting sustained community interest in cultural gatherings rooted in heritage and shared experience.
About the California Center for the Arts, Escondido
The California Center for the Arts, Escondido is North County’s premier cultural destination, offering year-round programming in music, theater, visual arts, and education. Since 1994, the Center has enriched more than 10.5 million lives and remains dedicated to serving the people of Escondido through the transformative power of the arts.
