• Zielinski started his career at the Johnson County Community College, in Overland Park, Kansas, then went on to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago to earn a bachelor of fine arts degree. He received a master of fine arts degree in painting and printmaking from Yale University.

• Zielinski divides most of his time between Lawrence, Kansas, and Berlin, Germany, with occasional teaching engagements in Australia.

• Before deciding to study art, Zielinski was a six-string electric bass player.