YouTube Artist ZHC to Paint 40-Foot Dragon Boat for Austin Festival

Zachary Hsieh will transform a traditional festival boat into a vibrant live art piece.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 4:11pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of the detailed, textured brushstrokes of a vibrant dragon boat painting, rendered in a high-contrast, high-fashion style with shimmering metallic accents and bold, saturated colors, conceptually representing the fusion of traditional and digital art forms at a community festival.A popular YouTuber's live painting of a traditional dragon boat will bring a modern, digital flair to a beloved Austin festival celebrating Asian culture.Austin Today

Austin-based YouTuber Zachary Hsieh, known as ZHC, will paint a 40-foot dragon boat as a live art installation during the 26th annual Austin Dragon Boat Festival. Hsieh will complete the piece in front of crowds at Festival Beach on April 25 before the boat is used in the festival's traditional dragon boat races.

Why it matters

The Austin Dragon Boat Festival is a beloved annual celebration of Asian culture and heritage. Incorporating a live art performance by a popular YouTube creator like ZHC will help draw new audiences to the festival and highlight the intersection of traditional cultural practices and modern digital media.

The details

Hsieh, who has over 23 million YouTube subscribers, is known for his large-scale, intricate painting projects. For the Austin festival, he will transform the traditional dragon boat design into a unique, one-of-a-kind work of art that will be on display for the thousands of attendees expected at the event.

  • The 26th annual Austin Dragon Boat Festival will take place on April 25, 2026.
  • Hsieh will complete the live painting of the 40-foot dragon boat on April 25 at Festival Beach.

The players

Zachary Hsieh

An Austin-based YouTuber known as ZHC, with over 23 million subscribers, who is renowned for his large-scale, intricate painting projects.

Austin Dragon Boat Festival

An annual celebration of Asian culture and heritage in Austin, Texas, featuring traditional dragon boat races and other cultural activities.

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What they’re saying

“I'm so excited to be a part of the Austin Dragon Boat Festival this year. Painting a 40-foot dragon boat live in front of the crowds is going to be an incredible experience.”

— Zachary Hsieh, YouTuber

What’s next

After completing the live painting, the 40-foot dragon boat will be used in the festival's traditional dragon boat races on the Colorado River.

The takeaway

By incorporating a popular digital creator like ZHC into the Austin Dragon Boat Festival, the event organizers are finding innovative ways to engage new audiences and celebrate traditional Asian culture through modern artistic mediums.