Teddy Phillips wants you to vote.
Every. Damn. Time.
Phillips, a Seattle-based artist who uses the pseudonym ‘Stat’ as an ode to his grandfather, partnered with Sounders FC to create a Black Lives Matter-themed captain’s armband for Nicolás Lodeiro to wear during the MLS is Back Tournament.
During the day, Phillips is an engineer at Microsoft. In his free time, he uses his passion and talent for art to create pieces fueled by activism, including a “Justice Series” with paintings of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. He’s also one of the artists who created the Black Lives Matter mural in Capitol Hill.
Activism is deeply ingrained in Phillips. His grandfather, Stature, marched alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the Civil Rights Movement. With the tectonic culture shifts currently sweeping across the nation, he felt called to use his penchant for art to make meaningful contributions in the fight to end systemic racism.
Phillips was at CenturyLink Field when the Sounders secured the 2019 MLS Cup, reinforcing his love for the team and belief that sports can be an exceptional societal unifier. Partnering with the Sounders, he’s hopeful that the club’s platform and commitment to being force for good in the community can lead to sweeping reforms that lead to a more just, equitable society.
Phillips’ message is simple: vote. Every single one of us has a platform in this country, and if we vote with intention, we can be the catalyst for the change we hope to see.
Ahead of the club’s MLS is Back Tournament opener against San Jose, Phillips joined a Zoom call with fellow Sounders supporters to partake in some of the typical pre-match traditions. Prior to kickoff, he led the group in a virtual rendition of Scarves Up.
Following Scarves Up, he participated in a virtual interview with Supporters’ Group Gorilla FC, discussing the intersection art and activism.
