MEET FOSAEKO

My name is Phillip Dehoog, but everyone knows me as Fosaeko. I love art and I treat every moment as such. From tattoos to brand design, collaborating with clients to produce original styles is my niche. I religiously take the road less traveled when it comes to my life and business. I love self-expression and being able to convey that through artistic mediums—along with any vibration—is such a kick for me. My art gets dark and demented, light and lovely, alive and dead.

I was raised up in the early-to-late '90s in SoCal graffiti culture, and it still speaks through my art today. I now reside in Golden Valley, AZ, and I cherish this rural style of living. Formal education was never my style; writing, drawing, and creativity were the only things that ever spoke to my soul. I only made it to the 8th grade—for me, it was "Skate and Destroy" all day, creating, painting, and always writing or rapping.

I’ve always had an affinity for walking fast, talking faster, and making money even faster. But that path only ever landed me temporary highs and lows, or behind bars. I’ve spent more than a decade of my life doing time, so I’m a bit institutionalized and I can see it in my daily life. It brought me to different states and cities when I was younger; I’m definitely a gypsy of sorts.

I’ve had a lot of wins and even more losses, and I believe my most valuable losses were my biggest wins. I’ve lost myself and found myself in a single day, then done it all over again from a different perspective the next. I’m loud, opinionated, and a bit aggressive, but I’m also quiet, attentive, and calming. I just go where the wind blows—I let the energy and God decide how I am in the moment.

I shoot quick and straight from the hip. I don't line up or wait for a number. I want everyone to be who they are; I was born without judgment. It’s all-day, every-day artwork with an endless supply of fresh canvas. I live inside the moment—I’m not worried about an imaginary safety net or saving myself for tomorrow's task. It’s all about right here and right now.

I’m now evolving into making it slower and making it mean more. I’m at that stage in my life where less is way more—less noise, less pressure, less stress. So, if you’re interested in becoming a client, just keep it real with me. That’s all I can be.