Taj Eye aka ZAPS from Bellingham, Washington, is a father and artist with roots in Tacoma. Growing up, art captivated him, from Van Gogh prints in his home to street art and graffiti discovered during his skateboard-loving teenage years. Tragically at 15, Taj witnessed the death of a younger family member in an horrific accident, an event that steered him towards a self-destructive path filled with legal troubles only to have more tragedy and death plague his life. Despite these hardships, he was determined to pursue art school and went to a fine art college for a BFA in photography and video. Post-education, Taj mainly focused his creative energy on painting, specifically painting murals and his kids. As a father to twins, Taj faced new challenges with the onset of the pandemic. His journey underscores resilience, the healing power of art, and the benefits of having a creative mindset through personal loss and adversity.


“I truly believe that creatives should have a seat at the the table when it comes to progressing society forward”