
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 storyOff the Stage
When he's not making music, you'll find Alex on the water. An avid fisherman, he spends his downtime chasing largemouth bass — and even the occasional shark. It's a passion that keeps him grounded and connected to the outdoors.
Patient, focused, and completely at peace — it's another side of Alex that most people don't see.


