phes
Jon Souza AKA Phes is a Brazilian-American artist from Harlem, NYC. He is a graffiti/mural artist, emcee, producer, educator and cultural ambassador. Born and raised in New York, he was inspired by Hip Hop from an early age and started writing graffiti and recording music in the early 90’s. Phes’ work focuses on using art and creativity as a medium for education, wellness, social justice and community building.
Phes first started as a graffiti writer in 1993. He has now painted walls and mural projects all over the country as well as in Peru, Brazil, the Netherlands, Colombia, the Dominican Republic and France. He is currently a Deputy Director at ArtBridge and an artist-in-residence at the Andrew Freedman Home. He was contracted as a Lead Artist and Art Director for Thrive Collective in NYC. From 2019 to 2021, Phes worked with NYC Health and Hospitals, installing artwork in over 20 hospitals. In 2018 he was selected to be a lead artist for the NYC Mural Arts Project, working with the Department of Health using art to combat stigma associated with mental health. He has also worked as a Cultural Ambassador for the US Department of State, teaching about Hip Hop art and culture to students in Peru, Colombia and Brazil.
As an educator, Phes continues to study and find ways to use art for social justice. He graduated with a MPA from the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University in 2019. His focus there was advanced management, applying these skills to art programs that use strategic planning and critical design theory in order to guarantee stronger impact and social value through his art.
Phes was on Next Level Team Peru, site manager for Team Ecuador, and will return as Site Manager for Next Level Taiwan.
