I create because I can show people how I perceive the world. I’m able to turn my emotions and my mind into visuals that I want to share.
You decide who will appear in Artforum Magazine, take home $25,000, and display their work at The Art of Elysium's Salon!
Right now, photography and videography. There's something magical about a single frame carrying an entire story, or the way movement through a lens can make someone feel something they didn't expect. But truthfully, my favorite art is whatever I'm deeply immersed in at that moment. When I hit that flow state when everything just pours out that's my favorite. That feeling doesn't belong to one medium. It belongs to the moment of pure creation.
Where do you find inspiration?Everywhere. Literally. I move through the world as an observer, drawn to what my senses catch: a sound, a texture, a fleeting moment most people walk past or wouldn't pay attention to. I'm pulled toward things that feel different the overlooked, the beautifully imperfect. My most powerful inspiration comes from real life, its rawness and unfiltered truth. Life doesn't need a filter. It just needs someone paying close enough attention.
What would you do with $25,000?This would be a turning point for an entire community. As a board member of a creative collective, I'd take the first real steps toward securing a studio home for our team a space with no limitations, no ceiling and no "but firsts". One of our deepest values is lifting the next generation of creatives. This $25,000 wouldn't just change my life. It would be that first ripple outward into every artist we've yet to meet.
Vote for Zay Poole to become The People's Artist while supporting a great cause! Cast your free daily vote or make an even bigger impact when you vote by donation, supporting The Art of Elysium in their mission to use art as a catalyst to help people triumph over difficult life challenges.
Colossal is a nationally registered professional fundraiser that inspires people to advocate for themselves and those in need. Through online competitions like The People's Artist, Colossal offers participants the opportunity to make their mark while also making a big impact.
