One of Richmond Hill’s beloved residents is getting his own showcase this fall. Zach Martin, a 26-year-old man living with autism, OCD and ADHD, will host an art show on Friday, November 7 from 6-8 p.m. at Richmond Hill City Center located at 520 Cedar Street, Richmond Hill, GA. The event will feature Zach’s original paintings, hand-illustrated cards, handmade crafts and more. Doors open at 6 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

Zach and his mother Erika run a blog called “Crickets and Trains” to post about his love of art, crickets, trains and autism awareness. Zach said he is looking forward to the show.

"I'm Zach, I'm 26 years old and on the autism spectrum. My art is my superpower, and my goal is to make my art my dream job,” he said. “I create things from my imagination and from my memories and put them together. A lot of my art focuses on nature and trains, which are some of my most favorite things."

His Facebook page, “Zach’s World”, has 2,800 followers and includes updates about his interests and finds. The space allows followers to gain an inside glance into the highlights of Zach’s day-to-day life.

According to Emory University School of Medicine’s Emory Autism Center in Decatur, Georgia, there are 5 million adults in the U.S. living with autism. Common strengths include outside the box thinking, attention to detail, dependability and thoughtful decisions. Common difficulties include sensory sensitivity, understanding others’ intentions, communicating their own needs and quick decision making.

April Cameron, general manager of Richmond Hill City Center, said she and her team are excited to partner with the Martins.

“We are absolutely thrilled to host Zach’s art show at the Richmond Hill City Center. Zach’s creativity and passion for art are truly inspiring, and his work reflects the vibrant spirit of our community,” she said. “As a venue deeply committed to fostering meaningful partnerships, we’re honored to support Zach and celebrate his talent. This event is a beautiful example of how art can bring people together, and we’re proud to be part of it.”

Event attendees will get a chance to meet Zach, view and purchase original art and learn about autism awareness.

To learn more about Zach and his work, check out his blog https://cricketsandtrains.com and his Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/zachsworld1.