Meet Philip Gabriel Steverson | Artist, Poet, & Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Philip Gabriel Steverson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Philip Gabriel, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I am originally from West Philadelphia, PA, moving around the area a lot in my adolescence years. There were a combination of things that helped shape who I am today, such as family hardships, early responsibilities, and the city of Philadelphia as a whole. Maturity was an aspect of myself that I wanted to develop early without knowing exactly what that meant. I used what I had gone through personally and with my family to learn how to grow from each life occurrence. In an inner city environment, one will become aware of the aspects of life that are not displayed on television. There is a saying that goes along the lines of, “whatever is in front of you is your reality”, meaning that our individual realities can be different to others, but to us they are the norm. I experienced first hand a life style that introduced assisted living, government assistance, and below average public schooling as the norm. In an inner city setting, one can either conform to the environment around them, or break away from the mold before it encapsulates them. If I had not been saved from my grandparents in 7th grade, I doubt that we would be having this conversation.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
My first talent would have to be writing. From an early age, 11-12 years old, I was writing poetry and journaling trying to express myself though words, stanzas and stories. Similar to most children, I began to draw at an early age as well. Fast forwarding to high school, I had collected all of my influences from music, fashion, and pop culture to shape an image of myself that I found comfort in, which translated into my personal aesthetic. In my early high school days, I became fascinated with fashion design and haute couture. I took my skill for writing and passion for design into college to major in both Fashion Design and Poetry. It was not until my trip abroad to the Netherlands that I began to take my visual arts to another level. In a weird way, the pandemic helped me hone in on this new form of creating. I feel that I have always been one to branch out from the group and that is exactly what I have done in college. I jumped at every chance to better my professional career and to learn from different experiences. I believe that is a small part of why I stand out from my peers. Other aspects could include my work ethic, eye for detail and collaborative/forward thinking.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I typically spend most of my free time in Phoenix where there are an abundance of amazing spots that I love to spend my time on a regular basis.  If my best friend were to come into town, we would definitely hit the Downtown Phoenix Farmers Market on an early Saturday morning.  We would have to be lucky, however, to not get one of the hottest Saturdays of the year.  If anyone does go to this market, I suggest taking a sun hat and shades, grab an acai bowl to start the day and relax.  It’s important to me that I spend time with people I love to be around, so I would most likely set up a group bowling night while this friend is in town.  Aside from that, if there are events happening, such as exhibition openings, or pop up markets, we would hit those as well.  Local shops, WellWorn, PHX Gen, and Now or Never, are other places I would take this friend to shop around for clothing, vintage or new.  On a day during the week, Pemberton is a great place to go because it is not crowded. They have a taco truck with the best shrimp tacos anyone will ever have along with their red sauce; a very smooth setting.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to extend a shoutout to my mother, Katherine Doraella Steverson. My mother passed before she could see the magnitude of my creative work. I dedicate this to her spirit and the love that she bestowed to my siblings and I while raising us. Her fighting efforts to keep a roof over our heads, bellies full, and hearts warm will never be forgotten.

Website: philipgabriels.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philsweak/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philip-steverson-38716a1aa/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/philsweak

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXYFsleP_4S62_kzzWQEusQ

Other: https://www.instagram.com/usernameweak/

Image Credits
Adam Riding