The People's Artist 2026
Vote for Alex
Alex is competing to appear in Artforum Magazine, win $25,000, and display his work at The Art of Elysium's Salon. Cast a free vote every day!
🗳️ Vote Now — It's FreeVoting ends May 14, 2026 at 7PM PDT
"There's more to the picture than meets the eye"— Neil Young, tattooed on Alex's forearm
More Than Music
At 20, Alex Dahlberg's life changed forever when encephalitis — inflammation of the brain caused by the Epstein-Barr virus — put him in a coma for a month. He woke up unable to remember his own name.
But through it all, music never left him. Even when he couldn't remember his parents, he could play Everlong by the Foo Fighters on a hospital guitar tuned to drop D.
Read the full storyThe Story Behind the Music
In February 2019, Alex fell into a coma after being diagnosed with encephalitis — inflammation of the brain caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. He woke up unable to remember his own name, with the brain function of a seven-year-old.
But even when he couldn't recognize his parents, he could play guitar. Featured in the Forsyth County News, Alex's journey from a hospital bed to the stage is a testament to the healing power of music — and the strength it takes to rebuild a life from scratch.
