Translating the human experience…

Zelda: the prettiest flower in the garden.

What started as a curious exploration into the realm of AI-generated art swiftly evolved into an interesting creative adventure. Operating under the pseudonym Zelda Cavanaugh as a tribute to my beloved Doberman, I established a digital storefront featuring and selling artwork. Initially, my approach was an informal experiment aimed at gauging AI’s grasp of human emotion, and ended in yielding profound results. Recognizing its potential, I decided to elevate the pieces by incorporating hand-generated embellishments, showcasing the beauty of human-computer collaboration in a unique and explicitly human-centric manner.

Drawing on the DSM-5 and neuroscience research, my work explores the intersection of human emotion and generative AI, seeking to bridge the gap between psychological experiences and machine-generated expression. Through abstraction and sound, it examines how AI can represent the complexity of emotions, transforming data into visual and auditory forms that resonate beyond language. This approach opens new pathways for understanding emotion, allowing technology to serve as both a mirror and a medium for deeper exploration.

About the Artist

BIOGRAPHY

Zelda Cavanaugh is the artistic identity of Michelle Cavanaugh, an interdisciplinary artist whose work examines the evolving relationship between technology, humanity, and creative expression. Named after her beloved rescue dog, whom she adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic, her practice blends artificial intelligence, digital storytelling, and traditional media to explore the boundaries of emotion, memory, and perception.

Cavanaugh’s journey into the arts is shaped by a unique background that spans both creative and technical disciplines. Raised in Pennsylvania, she spent much of her childhood at her grandparents' funeral home, where she developed an early fascination with preservation, ritual, and the human condition. Her close relationship with her grandmother, who played a central role in the business, served as the catalyst for her interest in the industry. This experience initially inspired her to pursue a career in funeral service, which later led her to nursing before she shifted her focus to technology and communication. She earned a bachelor of arts in English with a concentration in technical communications from the University of Central Florida, where she was awarded the Stuart Omans Award for Excellence, a distinction given to technical communications majors who demonstrate outstanding achievement in the field.

She later completed a master of science in information design and strategy at Northwestern University, where she developed an app prototype based on theoretical research related to affective neuroscience, cognitive behavioral therapy principles, human-computer interaction, and data visualization. Her research and work in these fields inform her artistic approach, blending science, design, and emerging technology to explore the impact of artificial intelligence on human emotion and perception.

Her work has been showcased internationally in exhibitions at Galeria Azur Berlin, The Biennale of Women in Art in London, and the European Museum of Modern Art in Barcelona. She has also been featured in Artio Gallery’s 2nd edition of Artio Magazine and Contemporary Art Curator Magazine. Her artistic reach will continue to expand with an upcoming exhibition at Galeria Azur New York, Act II in 2025.

Her insights and artistic approach have been highlighted in several interviews and podcasts, including an in-depth discussion on IBM’s Business Schooled Podcast (listen here) and an exclusive artist interview with Contemporary Art Curator Magazine (read here).

Rooted in both analytical precision and artistic intuition, Cavanaugh’s practice is a testament to the fluidity between organic and artificial, past and future, logic and emotion. Under the name Zelda Cavanaugh, she crafts narratives that challenge how technology mediates human connection, identity, and perception in an increasingly digital world.

CV

  • Northwestern University: Master of Science – MS, Information Design & Strategy

    Nomination: The Distinguished Thesis and Capstone Awards at Northwestern University recognize excellence in research and writing among master's program graduates. These awards honor students whose papers demonstrate the highest caliber of master's-level work.

  • University of Central Florida: Bachelor of Arts – BA, English, Technical Communications

    Award: Stuart Oman’s Award for Excellence: The Stuart Omans Award for Excellence is an academic award given to outstanding students in the Technical Communication program at the University of Central Florida (UCF). Named after Dr. Stuart Omans, a former professor and advocate for excellence in communication and writing, the award recognizes students who have demonstrated exceptional achievement in the field of technical communication, including areas such as writing, research, usability, and information design.

  • Cornell University: Certification, Product Management

  • Galeria Azur Berlin, Session 1, January 2024

  • Galeria Azur Berlin, Paris Pop-Up, May 2024

  • IBM Business Schooled Podcast, Guest Speaker, IBM, 2024

  • Artio Gallery, 2nd edition of Artio Magazine, May 27th 2024

  • Artio Gallery, London: The Biennale of Women In Art, September 2024

  • Artio Gallery, Barcelona: European Museum of Modern Art, October 2024

  • Contemporary Art Curator Magazine, Interview, November 2024

  • Galeria Azur New York, Act II, May 2025

ARTIST STATEMENT

Zelda explores diagnoses as snapshots in time rather than fixed characteristics of identity, using art to reframe these moments as part of an ever-evolving narrative. By intertwining digital imagery, musical theory, psychiatric diagnoses, neuroscience, and literary references, Zelda challenges static interpretations of self and conventional artistic norms. Drawing from the Circle of Fifths in musical theory, each visual element overlays an open-ended song, symbolizing the fluidity and interconnectedness of personal experiences. Hand-generated embroidery introduces a tactile layer, merging the ephemeral digital with the tangible physical. The meticulously woven elements create a captivating puzzle, inviting viewers to immerse themselves through thoughtful contemplation.

Process

The images I create begin with an ecosystem of AI tools combined with DSM-5 criteria for various mental health disorders. These images are then refined in Adobe Illustrator, where extensive stylistic edits are made. Once complete, the images are printed on canvases and mounted. Hand-sewn elements, primarily using embroidery threads, are then incorporated with various types of needles. My sewing skills were originally developed in the funeral service industry, where the process is known as suturing—a nod to the medical field's preference for Latin terminology.

The key difference I’ve noticed between sewing materials like canvas or paper versus skin lies in the level of resistance encountered. I chose printed canvases as a medium not only for their tactile similarity to skin but also because they artfully symbolize the act of offering external reinforcement to promote healing. My artwork mirrors the nature of certain mental health struggles, with the texture of the thread inviting viewers to physically engage with the piece.

Just as a wound requires support to heal, it’s vital that we support one another through life's challenges. Seek out your support network for the resilience needed to overcome difficulties, and similarly, offer support to those in your circle who may be struggling—much like the tactile connection my art invites.