The Asheville Area Arts Council is excited to announce Zander Stefani’s upcoming exhibition: “I Am, Are U?” in the Front Gallery of the Refinery Creator Space. The exhibition will be open to the public in the Front Gallery from April 6 through May 25, with an opening reception from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, April 6. The first 50 attendees to arrive will receive a free signed and editioned poster. With an exhibition that ponders the phrase: "I am," Stefani exemplifies the constant moral battle between self and other and the way all past experiences blend to become a reflection of the present moment. While this new body of work has a more developed sense of style, Stefani’s figures continue to portray the same sense of entrapment; plagued by the illusions presented in this world, yet realizing the infinite depths of reality. Intertwining tones of spirituality and street style fill the visual plane in Stefani’s work, bringing to light the palpable connection between the pure expression of graffiti and the intense meditation of spirituality. He tends to work autonomously, allowing the painting to reveal itself through many transparent layers of acrylic paint. Zander Stefani is a graduate of Savannah College of Art and Design, in Savannah, Ga., with a BFA in painting. He currently lives in Asheville and has exhibited along the eastern United States. His work can be seen in the homes of collectors throughout North America. Here's Stefani on his latest body of work: “Our world these days is so reliant on labels and beliefs in order to be properly delineated and judged. It is hard to have a conversation with a young adult that doesn’t end up revolving around social media, orientation, goals for the future, the steps you will take to get there, etc. We place so much importance on how we identify ourselves that our true spirit gets lost in the mix. The confusion that comes after asking the first question, “who am I?” only leads to more questions: “what am I doing here?”, “what is my purpose?” “what can I accomplish in this lifetime?” “Do I stand up to those that have come before me?”. Growing up in a society that is so focused on the end result and the next step, it is all too easy to lose sight of ourselves and our connection to the universe. I try to create work that visually represents both the magic and melancholy attuned to human existence, an attempt at divulging the questions with no answers.” The Refinery Creator Space: 207 Coxe Ave, Asheville, NC, 28801