The Tiger Who Would Be King: Amanda Zirzow in Dreamscaping

Amanda C. Zirzow’s painting The Tiger Who Would Be King was selected for Dreamscaping at the Alliance for the Arts in Fort Myers. On view May 1–30, 2026, the exhibition explored the boundary between reality and imagination through surreal, abstract, and non-objective work.

The painting grew from a series Amanda began in 2020 following visits to the Octagon Wildlife Sanctuary. Encounters with rescued animals informed both her paintings and a related coloring book project.

In The Tiger Who Would Be King, wildlife observation becomes a starting point for exploring identity, transformation, and the emotional presence of an animal. The subject remains recognizable, while expressive color and atmosphere invite individual interpretation.

For Zirzow Gallery, the selection marks another chapter in Amanda’s continuing exploration of nature and visual storytelling. The May 1 opening also coincided with her birthday, adding personal significance to the occasion.