From Barber Chairs to Billboard Dreams: Chuck Styles’ Creative Journey

If you've ever played Madden, collected Topps baseball cards, or admired a fire portrait of Childish Gambino or Muhammad Ali on Instagram, chances are you've already seen Chuck Styles' work. But before he became the creative juggernaut collaborating with EA Sports and Topps, Chuck was just Chuck—the West Philly barber with a sketchpad always nearby.

“I was a barber with a lot of jokes,” Chuck laughs, reminiscing about cutting hair at Cut and You. “But even then, art was always in the mix. Sometimes the haircut was the art.”

And he wasn’t kidding. One of his legendary cuts featured Iron Man with Robert Downey Jr.'s face on one side and the Avengers "A" wrapping around the head. Haircut-as-canvas became Chuck’s first gallery.

From Clippers to Canvas

After leaving the shop, Chuck dove full-time into the art world. His signature? Vivid, emotional portraits that blend realism with cultural symbolism. A fan favorite includes a piece inspired by This Is America, where he burned the canvas to match the chaos of the subject matter.

But for Chuck, the mission has always been deeper than aesthetics.

“I want to create artwork that portrays Black people—our heroes, our heroines—whether they're real or fictional,” he says. “Jamie Foxx in Django? That’s a superhero in slave times.”

And he means it. His large-scale Django piece is a labor of love months in the making, and it’s his current favorite.

The Birth of Styconics: Art You Can Hold

Chuck isn’t just painting for galleries anymore—he’s building a collectible empire. His new platform, Styconics, flips the idea of fine art on its head by producing small, high-quality collectible cards featuring his artwork. Think Pokémon, but for culture.

And yes, the Steph Curry "Warriors" card sold out immediately.

“Art is an asset,” Chuck emphasizes. “Why should collectors only be white or rich? I want to show our people that there's value here. This is wealth-building.”

Each card is signed, numbered, and designed with flashy effects—foil finishes, holographics, and all the flair of a sneaker drop. Some are even “S-Class,” meaning one-of-one exclusives. Gone in minutes.

Style, Hustle, and Sports Collabs

His sports journey started with Topps, creating baseball card sets alongside creatives like Snoop Dogg and DJ Ski. That gig led to the now-legendary EA Sports Madden cover featuring the late John Madden himself.

Chuck’s reaction when EA reached out? “I cried,” he admits. “I couldn’t believe they wanted me—a Black artist—to honor Madden.”

Instead of filming his behind-the-scenes promo at tourist spots like the Liberty Bell, Chuck told EA, "We're shooting this in my Philly—my old barbershop, my neighborhood, my people."

Stand on business. Always.

What's Next? Superheroes, Star Wars, and… Wrestlemania?

Styconics isn’t just for the sports heads. Chuck teased upcoming drops based on pop culture icons, comic books, Star Wars, and even vintage video games. There's even talk of wrestling cards—just don’t expect Hulk Hogan.

“I got a Charizard piece that’s already sold, and I’m working on some crazy superhero stuff for Superhero Day,” he grins. “August is gonna be wild.”

He’s also eyeing the con circuit—Comic-Con, DesignerCon, maybe even C2E2 in Chicago. And yes, a Kobe Bryant piece is coming.

Thoughts on AI in Art? Chuck Keeps It Real.

Chuck isn’t shy when it comes to tech in the art world. While he acknowledges AI has a place for content creation, he draws a hard line when it comes to art.

“If you're using AI to sell prints and call it ‘your’ artwork—nah. That’s not it.”

He did experiment with AI briefly for storytelling purposes, blending Photoshop with generative visuals to build characters and write short fiction. But ultimately, he backed away.

“It wasn’t me,” he says. “Art has to come from a real place.”

Final Words of Wisdom: “Keep Going. They’re Always Watching.”

The big takeaway from this episode? Chuck’s journey isn’t about viral moments—it’s about consistency, authenticity, and community. Every opportunity, from Topps to EA to Styconics, came from doing good work, maintaining relationships, and staying true to himself.

“You never know who’s watching,” he says. “Just keep going.”

So whether you're an aspiring artist, a fellow creative, or a collector with an eye for what’s next—Chuck Styles' story is proof that talent + grind + heart equals legacy.

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