Phoenix Rising

Medium Description

Acrylic paint on canvas using techniques such as brush strokes, masking, spray paint and acrylic paint pen drawing. 

Artist Description

Phoenix Rising is a depiction of triumph, healing, and rebirth. A fiery red phoenix rises from the wreckage of a demolished ship, flanked by two opposing heads, filled with pills and set aflame, at its corners. At the top of the painting, a clock stands where, instead of showing the time, it displays the static of a TV that has lost connection. In the background, rockets blast into the night sky, leaving trails of smoke behind them. Each element represents a piece of the artist’s story and what ultimately led him to become who he is.

At age 6, Zachary was diagnosed with Tourette’s Syndrome, Autism, OCD, Depression, and ADHD. He went through several rounds of rehabilitation, medication trials, and hospital stays. Professional opinion held that the rather extreme nature of this combination of disorders would limit his future independence. That prediction turned out to be the furthest thing from the truth.

Zachary struggled through his education and lost one of his older twin brothers in 2019, yet he went on to earn his Associate’s Degree in Human Psychology & Development. He made mental and physical health a priority, doing everything he could to conquer his struggles. Today he lives with his partner in a beautiful home, manages completely unmedicated, and has built a stable career in marketing alongside a growing side business as an artist.

This piece marked a turning point; not only in Zach’s artistic style, but in his personal journey. It embodies 18 years of struggle and success, telling the story of how someone with the odds stacked against them can still break through the carnage to become the best version of themselves.