Meet Benjamin Maedo | Artist & Creative

We had the good fortune of connecting with Benjamin Maedo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Benjamin, how do you think about risk?
For me, risk is about recognizing opportunities that lead to the most meaningful growth. I graduated from Wilson High School in Long Beach in the summer of 2020, right at the height of the pandemic. Like many people around the world, I faced an uncertain future. I knew I was passionate about art, but I wasn’t sure how best to develop that passion. At first, I enrolled at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo as an art major. However, just before the academic year began, a series of lucky connections led me to visit the studio of the YouTuber ZHC. At first, I assumed it was simply a friendly invitation, but it turned out they wanted me to produce artwork over that visit for a new video they were shooting. That one visit turned into many, and before long, I was working part-time as an artist for ZHC.

Because the pandemic had moved my first year of college entirely online, and the ZHC studio was in Los Angeles, I was able to continue working for ZHC while studying remotely. After a year of balancing both, the ZHC team was relocating to Austin in the fall of 2021, and they offered me a full-time role. Accepting it meant dropping out of college, a major risk and a departure from the traditional path and the stability of earning a degree. But I trusted my instincts and chose to start a new career path. It turned out to be the best decision of my life.

That single choice opened the door to everything I’ve done since. While working at ZHC, I learned skills beyond art, including content creation, production, business, and storytelling. I built connections with creators across the country. Today, I’m the social producer for Jesser, a leading sports creator on YouTube, where I help run short-form content across YouTube Shorts, TikTok, and Instagram. Since I joined, we’ve added over 10 million subscribers, and we continue to grow as a team.

What I’ve learned is that opportunities are all around us, but you have to be willing to bet on yourself. If you trust your instincts and keep doing the right things, small wins can compound into something bigger than you could ever imagine. Even though my job title isn’t “artist” anymore, I still continue my artistic journey through freelance customizations and occasional apparel design. Art will always be part of who I am. It has simply evolved into new forms.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My art has always been fun and bold — taking everyday objects and transforming them into something personal, visual, and story-driven. I’ve customized everything from electronic and water bottles to shoes and apparel, often collaborating with creators and brands to bring their ideas to life. What sets my work apart is my focus on connection to create pieces that feel unique to the person receiving them.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend were visiting Southern California, I’d make it my mission to show them the best time—starting in my hometown of Long Beach with a stroll through the Naples canals and a visit to Belmont Shore. I’d say Southern California has some of the best views in the country. We’d catch a sunset on the beach with In-N-Out in hand, then spend a day at Disneyland hitting all the classic rides and snacks. I’d plan a trip to Laguna Beach for some food, beach time, and coastal views, and a hike to through for those iconic California moments. Evenings would be for great dinners—like Boa Steakhouse in West Hollywood—and nights out in Santa Monica. We’d wrap it all up at the Santa Monica Pier or a Lakers or Dodgers game, soaking in the full SoCal experience.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would love to dedicate my shoutout to two people who have had an incredible impact on my journey: my friend and mentor Zach Hsieh, known to many as ZHC, and my dad, Gregg Maedo.

First, I want to recognize Zach. I had the opportunity to work for Zach from 2020 through 2024, and those years were transformative for me both personally and professionally. Zach was not only one of my biggest inspirations but also became an extraordinary mentor and friend. Everything I know about creating engaging content, building a brand, and pushing creative boundaries, I learned under his guidance. His work ethic and vision set the standard for the kind of artist I aspire to be. Being part of his team gave me a firsthand look at what it takes to succeed at the highest level in the creative world, and I truly would not have the opportunities I have today without his influence. To this day, he is still one of my closest friends and I couldn’t be more grateful.

​​I owe so much to my dad, Gregg Maedo. From a young age, he supported whatever captured my imagination—whether it was art, Star Wars, or basketball (definitely not baseball). But more than just showing up, he taught me values that would shape who I am today. Through his actions, he instilled in me the importance of discipline, consistency, and hard work. He always showed through action. Watching him approach life with focus and dedication taught me that nothing worth having comes easy. Those lessons became the foundation for how I pursue my goals now. When I started taking art seriously in middle and high school—and later explored the creative content world—he not only supported my passions, but had already equipped me with the mindset to stay committed, to keep learning, and to keep pushing forward even when things were uncertain. Whether it was staying up late to finish a piece, grinding on work, or taking a leap to chase a new opportunity, that work ethic came from him. I genuinely believe that the opportunities I’ve had—the chance to work with creators like ZHC and Jesser—were possible because of the foundation he built in me from day one.

Both Zach and my dad have shaped not just my career, but the person I am today. Their support, mentorship, and belief in me have made all the difference, and I am forever grateful to them.
And of course, a huge shoutout to all the family and friends who’ve supported me along the way — so many people have shaped who I am and played a meaningful role in both my life and career.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benmaedo/?hl=en

Twitter: https://x.com/bmaedo

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@benmaedo

Other: Tiktok: @benmaedo

Image Credits
Geovany Chavez