Arizona artist spotlight: Such Styles
Published: 10/17/2025
Meet Phoenix-based artist Such Styles featured in GPEC’s Perspectives of Greater Phoenix Exhibit
For Phoenix native Such Styles, art is just as much a creative outlet as it is a way of life. The artist has spent decades transforming the city’s walls into vibrant canvases, mentoring young artists and shaping the region’s visual identity through public and community-based art.
“I breathe artfully with our desert city,” he said. That deep connection to place is evident in every brushstroke. From the winding paths of the Salt River to the classrooms where he teaches, Such’s work reflects the rhythm, color and culture of his community.
His featured piece in the Greater Phoenix Economic Council’s (GPEC) Perspectives of Greater Phoenix hybrid exhibit is a tribute to his outlook — one that has helped transform the color of the region. It captures the movement and energy of a community that has grown alongside him, celebrating both the legacy of local art and the promise of what is still to come.
PHX Transit & Such
As a self-described “homegrown desert dweller” who has witnessed the region’s transformation over the decades, his involvement in the local art scene has been extensive and positive. He jokes that the role of arts in the community would take an entire afternoon to describe, saying, “It’s a big city (with) lots going on.”
That growth is especially visible in Arizona’s commitment to arts and culture. The Arizona Commission on the Arts has allocated more than $33 million since fiscal year 2020 to programs that foster creativity and cultural development, particularly in educational settings. Such is passionate about nurturing creativity in schools, emphasizing the need for robust support of arts education and artist-in-residence programs. “[These programs] offer teachable art moments in the classroom — from one generation to the next!” he said.
This deep-rooted belief in the power of creativity extends beyond classrooms and galleries. For a quick dose of inspiration, Such turns to the Salt River paths that weave through Phoenix and into Tempe. These natural corridors offer a peaceful contrast to the city’s energy and serve as a creative recharge point.
Throughout his artistic journey, Such Styles has gathered countless insights, but he recalls one piece of advice that has remained a guiding force. It came from New York graffiti pioneer Cey Adams, who told him, “Such, sometimes you just gotta keep your head down and keep painting.” Such sees those words not just as encouragement, but as a personal philosophy. In moments of challenge or creative uncertainty, he returns to his simple truth, allowing it to ground his process and fuel his passion for making art.
When it comes to local inspiration, Such doesn’t hesitate to name his favorite artist. “Without nepotism, my son Champ Styles,” he says. “His ambitious creative spirit is so inspiring to witness.” It reflects the generational impact of art and the power of mentorship.
Greater Phoenix’s art scene can be summed up in three words: auspicious creative moments. It is a fitting phrase for a region that continues to evolve, uplift and inspire through its artists.
Follow Such’s work online at www.suchstylesart.com or on Instagram at @_suchstyles and explore his contribution to the Perspectives of Greater Phoenix exhibit.