The Puzzled Co

Join us for a tour of The Puzzled Co. studios . We hosted puzzlers from around DFW to see how we make our unique Waterjet cut puzzles and watch our tactile printer making Puzzles for EveryBody. Happy puzzling!

This puzzle is all about collaboration. Gratitude to artist and poet for letting us join in to make this special puzzle art edition in celebration of the exhibition American History Vol.5: Art of Collaboration . Read Jay’s poem while assembling the 266-piece puzzle with your own group of favorite collaborators. Visit our website to read the full poem.

Poem: Before the Applause by Jay Writes

Painting: The Inner Voice, from the tryptic watercolor series Reasons We Strive, by Richard Samuel, 2026

Artist Richard Samuel created Reasons We Strive, a three-panel exploration of human ambition — a visual meditation on the layered motivations that push us forward even when the path feels uncertain. Each canvas represents a different force behind our pursuit of greatness, revealing that striving is never powered by just one reason, but by a dynamic intersection of desire, love, and recognition. The first painting in the series, The Inner Voice, is featured in this special puzzle art edition.

Together, the triptych of watercolor paintings suggests that our striving is rarely singular. We move forward because of who we are, who we love, and how we wish to be seen. Reasons We Strive invites viewers to consider their own motivations — and to recognize that ambition, in all its forms, is a layered and deeply human experience.

Jonathan Ezemba, also known as Jay Writes, is an author, multidisciplinary performing artist, and event curator. Jonathan is an advocate for liberation through self and collective expression. He verbally illustrates the beauty within community, struggles with identity, and reflections on his own experiences and the world at large.