Born and raised in Falls Church, Virginia, just outside Washington D.C., Amanda
Zirzow grew up with parents who encouraged scientific discovery and creativity.
Some of her favorite childhood memories include weekend trips on enriching
visits to museums, being amazed by the animals at the National Zoo, and freely
exploring the outdoors.
She graduated valedictorian from George C. Marshall High School with an
International Baccalaureate degree, earning top scores in the subjects of
biology and art. Following her father's footsteps, she pursued a career in the
sciences. She earned a bachelor's and Master of Science in Biological Sciences
from George Mason University.
Subsequently, her career path led her to some diverse and unforgettable
professional experiences. Amanda worked in the functional genomics laboratory
at George Mason University, where she co-invented a novel method for using
small interfering RNA for medical treatments. At the National
Institutes of Health, she worked in the field of glycobiology, using human and
animal models to study cardiovascular disease susceptibility. She learned to
SCUBA dive at the University of Arizona's Biosphere 2 while working in the
marine biology laboratory educational outreach program. Additionally, she has
taught college-level biology, microbiology, and genetics.
Throughout her career, art had remained her quiet, creative outlet that she
turned to outside work. She has always been intrigued by famous painters who
combine emotion and unique insight into the world through their artistic vision
and brushwork. Some such influences include Vincent Van Gogh, who depicted a
sense of urgency, movement, and even turmoil through his thickly laid paint and
vivid brushstrokes, Sir Peter Paul Rubens, with his highly charged compositions
and intense use of dramatic lighting (chiaroscuro), and Salvador Dalí, who
evoked his dreams and hallucinations in unforgettable,
dreamlike images.
In 2020, Amanda decided to dive into the art world professionally. The
primary catalyst that made her a professional artist came during the COVID-19
pandemic when she felt compelled to paint and connect with the community, further
fueling her artistic growth. What started as sharing her work on social media
transitioned to selling in virtual art galleries. Her work was featured on the
cover of the October 2020 edition of Happenings Magazine of Southwest Florida.
Now she is proud to offer her work in physical gallery spaces and art
exhibitions. As a full-time artist, she loves to engage viewers and share
experiences, deep thoughts, and emotions processed through her paintings.
In 2021, Amanda held her first solo art exhibition at the Arts for ACT
Gallery, curated by Claudia Goode. The show's theme, "A Starry Night in
May," was an exhibit inspired by the artist's dream realized. In the fall
of the same year, Amanda's work "Plight of the Owl" was recognized as
an exhibition winner at the Cape Coral Art Center. The following year, the City
of Cape Coral selected Amanda's artwork, "Burrowing Owls in the Starry
Night," to be on permanent display in Downtown Cape Coral as a part of
their Utility Box Beautification Project.
Amanda continues to captivate viewers with her one-of-a-kind bold and
colorful paintings. She values informal self-education, surrounding herself
with remarkable people, do-it-yourself projects, and creative experimentation.
With her passion for art and background in biology, she often brings exacting
details of the subjects in her paintings and infuses them with color, a unique
style appreciated by collectors worldwide. Amanda attributes her success as a
scientist, teacher, and artist to her dedication and enthusiasm, but more
importantly, to her family, friends, and community.
