"Roots hold stories deep in time,
Branches reach where futures grow,
Across the paths that lives may take,
The same quiet roots still flow."
Generations: Tree of Life
Sari ID: 26 SETH GEN AAM
By Sheetal Seth
Collection: Journey and Exile
Created by: Sheetal Seth, California
Sari Details: Silk dye and guta on custom-dyed Benares silk
Latest Exhibit: Asian Art Museum, San Francisco (March 2026)
Includes: Blouse kit (materials for two blouses) and certificate of authenticity
Care: Dry clean only by a textile specialist
Status: Available for sale
The Artist
Sheetal Seth is an artist and educator whose work draws inspiration from nature, florals, and community. Trained in Fine Arts, Textile Design, Interior Design, and Graphic Design, she works across watercolors, mixed media, sculpture, silk painting, and acrylics. She has exhibited in solo and group shows at venues including Triton Museum, India Community Center, and Silicon Valley Open Studios. She is also an Art Teacher at Saratoga Elementary School and Foothill Elementary School.
The Inspiration
Generations: Tree of Life is inspired by two photographs of Sheetal with her mother, sister, and daughter. The sari explores how families evolve while remaining rooted in shared origins.
Like a tree, each generation grows outward as they travel, settle, and build lives, yet remain connected at the roots. Three female faces represent generations of women linked through memory and heritage.
Symbols from California, including monarch butterflies and poppies, acknowledge the artist’s life in the United States and how identity expands across geographies.
From Sari to Art
Sheetal has worked with painted textiles for many years, previously painting on chiffon saris and other fabrics. For this sari, she used high-quality silk dyes produced by Jacquard.
One of the most technical aspects of the process involved the use of guta, which requires precision because it defines the boundaries of every painted form.
The work also required steam setting to permanently fix the dyes into the silk fibers. Through experimentation, Sheetal discovered alternative methods, such as solvent washing, that helped refine the process.
The sari was stretched across a frame system using pins, rubber bands, and specialized tools so that the fabric remained perfectly tensioned while painting. Brushes and applicators of different sizes were used to control the flow of dye across the silk.
Message for the World
When someone wears this sari, Sheetal hopes they feel connected.
Connected to their family, to their community, and to the places that shape their lives.