Today we’d like to introduce you to Zach Auerbach.
Hi Zach, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I dropped out of college at age 19 in pursuit of something bigger than classroom learning. I bought a Sprinter van, built out the inside to be a livable camper and hit the road with the goal of visiting as many of the 63 US national parks as I could. I spent two years on the road traveling to 50 of the national parks. I was mainly hiking, writing, and practicing photography. I kept a very detailed journal about my experiences which included adopting a cat (Yosemite), navigating the Covid pandemic, and driving to Alaska and back. It truly was the adventure of a lifetime.
Upon returning from Alaska after two years on the road, I spent six months in Middlebury, Vermont (ironically the college town I dropped out of) living and working on a farm where I tended to sheep, chickens, bees, and tapped trees to process sap and produce maple syrup. During those six months, I typed out my handwritten journal and formatted it into a book, which I self-published by crowdfunding and selling pre-orders through Kickstarter.com.
After publishing the book and leaving Vermont, I traveled through Colorado for the summer of 2022 on a mini book tour— selling copies out of my car at independent book shops and climbing mountains when I had the chance. In all honestly, the road trip turned into more of a mountaineering trip than a book tour. I climbed 22 of the 58 peaks which reach above 14,000 ft.
I’m giving the highlights here, but life is not without hardship. After the Colorado trip I spent several months struggling with my mental health. I was lucky to be able to stay with my parents while I learned many life-changing lessons and how to better plan my future in a sustainable way. I found ceramic sculpture to be an expressive and helpful medium to work through the more difficult times. I think it’s important to mention the low moments because the “instagram” version often gives a false representation of one’s real path through life. And hopefully those going through tough times feel less alone.
In 2023, as I got back on my feet I moved with Yosemite the cat out to Leadville, Colorado— the highest city in America. It seemed to not be in the complete middle of nowhere, but also right in the high country with the two tallest mountains in the state looming over my house.
On a whim, and with the encouragement of my mother, I attended the MARBLE/marble symposium in the town of Marble, Colorado where 50-or-so participants camp out in the mountains (near the well-known marble quarry) and carve stone for a week. I showed up with zero stone carving experience but they showed me the ropes and made it more accessible than I could have imagined. They have a good mix of experts and beginners, with instructors teaching workshops throughout the week. I was enamored by this beautiful, milky, white stone. And I’ve gone back to the symposium every summer 4 years in a row.
Upon returning to Leadville, I was able to set up a rudimentary studio in my backyard only requiring a few basic power tools and hand tools. I split my time between skiing, sculpting, and working odd labor jobs like processing firewood or helping with construction projects.
In autumn of 2025, after two years in Leadville (a city of 2,000 people) I figured if I really wanted to pursue sculpting I should move to a slightly bigger town, maybe with a milder climate.
I had my eye on Santa Fe, a place I had been before and which has a well-established art scene.
But before fully committing, I travelled to Italy for three months during the late fall and winter. I spent one month backpacking in the alps and two more months sculpting in Pietrasanta, the sort of Mecca of marble sculpting. It was quite an inspiring experience.
Upon returning this past February, I pulled the trigger on moving to Santa Fe, which I’ve loved so far. I’m still in the Rockies, but in a place with about 50x bigger population than Leadville— yet not a suffocating metropolis with concrete skyscrapers. It feels like a perfect fit.
I have an actual workshop where I can sculpt freely (without worrying about making too much noise and dust) and Yosemite the cat is happy here, too. I feel as though I’m finally emerging as an artist with a consistent style and an established body of work.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’ve had my share of hiccups, but it seems like that’s what your 20s are about. Traveling the country in my van, it felt like my life was a movie at many points. But there were plenty of times where I felt isolated and lonely, or that I was missing out on the college experience all my friends were having.
There were more tangible struggles as well, like facing down grizzly bears while backpacking in Alaska or figuring out how to deal with the pandemic in a van without a bathroom.
But the worst day of my van journey by far actually happened the day before the Covid lockdown started. I was entering Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona and a five-month-old Yosemite the kitten leapt from my lap out the window of the van while I was going about 15 miles per hour. He broke his knee on the pavement and I rushed him 2 hours to Flagstaff where they had to amputate his leg that night. It was such a shock for both of us.
The state went into lockdown the next day and we ended up quarantining on a mountainside which we had completely to ourselves. It turned into the perfect healing retreat for Yosemite and I while the apocalypse unfolded below. He adapted to three legs quickly and I was so proud of how we both just kept on. He taught me that adaptation and positive attitude is how you survive and thrive. These days, he’s so quick and energetic that I am convinced that fourth leg was just slowing him down.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Well, I’m 26, I’m an emerging stone sculptor under the artist name ZAKO.
My sculptures explore the meeting point between organic movement and geometric order. Working primarily with marble, I am interested in how rigid structures can inform shapes that appear fluid, playful, and soft. I am driven by a desire to test the material’s limits, pushing stone toward unexpected levels of delicacy, balance, and complexity.
My inspiration comes from both nature and mathematics. Water, mountains, wildlife, and sunlight influence the rhythms and contours of my vision, while geometric principles such as Fibonacci spirals, curvilinear stars, and the golden ratio provide an underlying framework. By combining these aspects, I create forms that tread the line between freedom and order, flux and structure.
Recently I experimented with infusing stained glass into an abstract marble sculpture which went really well. It has many different looks depending on the angle of the sunlight and it’s a unique fusion of materials. I am excited to create more pieces blending the two materials.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I listen to a lot of music on Spotify. While I sculpt, while I drive, while I cook, while I brush my teeth— I’ve always got a self-procured playlist going. Lately it’s been a lot of indie, folk, bluegrass, Americana stuff.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ZachAuerbach.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zacharyauerbach
