Artistic Vision

WHO: Stephen Wilfong

WHAT: You might recognize his work before you recognize him. Stretched above the length of the bar at Mez in EpiCentre hangs Stephen Wilfong’s “Smoke.” The New York City transplant (whose celebrity clientele includes Alec Baldwin) moved here in 2008 to become the in-house photographer for NoDa’s District Design Studios. But it’s Wilfong’s role as the official photographer for John Lassiter’s mayoral campaign that’s consumed much of his time this fall.

While he says documenting the campaign has been refreshing, he’s also energized about his newest endeavor. His project allows underexposed photographers to display their work in District Design as part of a contest where the public votes on its favorite photographs. He hopes this effort will make Charlotte more appreciative of photography as an art form. “Visual art is not a prominent part of Charlotte yet,” says Wilfong, “but I want to be a prominent person in Charlotte’s artistic movement.”