Exhibitions, Works & Press

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: April 14, 2026

Fort Myers, FL — Fort Myers artist and Florida SouthWestern State College professor Amanda C. Zirzow has been selected to exhibit her painting The Tiger Who Would Be King in Dreamscaping, a curated exhibition at the Alliance for the Arts.

On view from May 1 through May 30 in the Alliance’s Member Gallery, Dreamscaping brings together artists working across media to explore the blurred boundary between reality and the imagined. Through surreal, abstract, and non-objective approaches, the exhibition invites viewers into spaces shaped by memory, symbolism, and perception.

Zirzow’s work contributes to this dialogue through narrative-driven wildlife imagery that merges direct observation with imagination. Her paintings often begin in real encounters with animals and natural environments before shifting into a more symbolic space, where familiar subjects take on emotional and psychological weight.

In The Tiger Who Would Be King, the subject exists in a dreamlike state—both grounded and elusive—reflecting themes of identity, transformation, and quiet tension. The work traces back to a series Zirzow began in 2020 following visits to the Octagon Wildlife Sanctuary, a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center, where encounters with rescued animals informed both her paintings and a related coloring book project.

The Tiger Who Would Be King, oil on canvas, 2026. Selected for Dreamscaping, a juried exhibition at the Alliance for the Arts.

“I am drawn to the moment where something observed begins to shift into something felt,” said Zirzow. “My work starts with real experiences—time spent in natural environments, encounters with animals—but it does not stay there. It moves into a space where those subjects carry something more internal. I am interested in that tension between what is seen and what is remembered, where an image can feel both familiar and slightly unsettled. It matters to me that the work holds that balance—grounded in reality, but open enough that each viewer can find their own meaning within it.”

The opening reception for Dreamscaping will be held on Friday, May 1 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at the Alliance for the Arts, located at 10091 McGregor Boulevard in Fort Myers. The reception coincides with the artist’s birthday, marking a meaningful moment within an already significant exhibition.

Zirzow is a Professor of Biological Sciences at Florida SouthWestern State College and a practicing artist whose work bridges science, storytelling, and visual expression. Her recent projects include narrative-based wildlife paintings and the illustrated children’s book Have You Seen My Mom?, where recurring characters and environments reflect her ongoing exploration of connection, place, and perception.

Media Contact:
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