Jaz Fantastic

Jaz Fantastic

BY Kelsey Sheppard

Born and raised in Somerset, New Jersey, Mr. Stephenson—known artistically as Jaz Fantastic—first picked up a spray can in 1981, starting out by tagging his name. What began as a rebellious form of self-expression evolved after he saw an elaborate mural behind a Kmart. Inspired and competitive, Jaz introduced himself with a large-scale piece of his own. Though his family never discovered his early graffiti work, his principal did; determined to keep it from reaching home, Jaz offered to scrub every wall he had tagged.

That hustle carried into his time at St. Augustine, where he studied Broadcasting Communications and designed flyers for fraternities and DJs. His work expanded into newspaper features and even a graffiti backdrop for a film in Wilmington. Life eventually pulled him away from art for 25 years as he focused on marriage and raising his children, but in 2021, he returned to his roots through The Ellington-White Contemporary Art Gallery, gaining recognition from the Fayetteville Art Council.

Jaz’s work now centers on space—an expansive, meditative theme he uses to pull viewers out of their current reality. His pieces, which often take about a week to complete, reflect both precision and personal critique; he admits he’s rarely satisfied, constantly pushing himself to improve. That same creative energy shapes his home life, where music and art intertwine. He credits himself with influencing his sons’ musical abilities, often painting in his garage while exploring music on his beat-up, paint-speckled radio.

Through his cosmic imagery, Jaz hopes viewers feel a sense of individuality and freedom—the idea that you can exist fully as yourself within your own space. For him, space represents isolation in a beautiful way. Still, working with spray paint presents its own set of challenges. The medium can be unpredictable, with limited color options, little opportunity for mixing shades, and technical issues like clogged or misfiring caps. Despite these obstacles, Jaz continues to push forward creatively. Looking ahead, he’s interested in expanding into wearable art, including bleach-dyed, planet-themed t-shirts and graffiti-style name designs, as well as experimenting with more abstract work. For Jaz, the goal remains the same: always chase the next challenge.