"Four daughters wrapped in thread,
Vines that hold what’s left unsaid.
Gold whispers low as birds take flight,
A child below inherits light."
The Matriarchs
Sari ID: 26 TEJO MTR AAM
By Thejomaye Menon
Collection: Journey and Exile
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Created by: Thejomaye Menon, Chennai
Sari Details: Fabric paint on custom-dyed Kanchipuram 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
Thejomaye Menon practices abstract and figurative painting, sculpture, and installation. She draws from Kerala's verdant landscapes and the charged ritual energy of Theyyam performances, creating work that is simultaneously vibrant and meditative. With over 100 exhibitions internationally and recognition including the International Award from the Salon des Beaux Arts in Lyon, this marks her first exploration of silk as canvas.
The Inspiration
Thejomaye draws inspiration from her roots in Kerala, a region shaped by matriarchal traditions where women have long played central roles in holding families together, making decisions, and sustaining continuity across generations, often in the face of migration and change.
Her work reflects women who carry the idea of home within themselves, through adapted rituals, stories passed down to the next generation, and everyday acts of preservation. These become ways of holding on to identity across time and distance.
As she notes, while each woman’s journey is unique, there is a shared thread of experience that creates a deep sense of understanding and connection between women.
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From Sari to Art
Thejo has spent decades painting on canvas, wood, and walls, but working on a sari presented a new challenge. The fabric required stability and precision, leaving little room for error.
She consulted weavers, studied how pigments behave on silk, and approached the process in careful layers using Seta Color fabric paints and acrylics. Each brushstroke was considered and intentional, resulting in a work that is both controlled and enduring.
Message for the World
When someone wears this, Thejomaye wants them to feel the quiet strength of women who endure and persist, strength that echoes:
“Women are strong.”