ABOUT THE ART
BALLOON started as a 10 page zine in 2023. At the time, I just wanted to make something light-hearted and fun. It was about gas stations and sunglasses. I didn't know it at the time, but what I was doing was reminiscing on childhood nostalgia, and turning the mundane and regular into something exciting and memorable. That is what BALLOON is all about. Whether it's a zine, fine art, advertising or any other directions I choose to go. The purpose is always the same.
As BALLOON grows and grows, I get really excited about the future. My short term goal is to work with small, local businesses. I believe that my art can help these businesses find success and my community thrive. My long term dream is to open up a BALLOON store, where I can sell art, meet with clients, people can hang out, and be a gallery space for the community.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
I think it's important to talk about who I am and why I even make art in the first place. I'm Zach Winger, I'm from the Chicago suburbs, and I currently live in Nashville, Tennessee. I graduated from the University of Southern Indiana with a Bachelor's in Art with a Graphic Design Emphasis.
During my time at USI, when I was 19, I got diagnosed with testicular cancer. Obviously, that is when my life flipped upside down. But, in a weird way, it's the best thing that ever happened to me. Having cancer opened my eyes to how [fragile] our lives are and to what really matters in this world. To me, there is nothing more important in the world than BEING ALIVE. I hate that I had to go through something terrible to realize that, but that is kind of why I make art. So that maybe you, too, can appreciate being alive, without having to go through anything bad. It may seem like I make art about stupid little things that are niche and insignificant, but that's kind of like, the whole point. The human experience is the most beautiful thing in the world and I think we all take it for granted.
