Jesse Stagg

Jesse Stagg is a multi-disciplinary creative director, writer, and producer who bridges media, arts, and design.

Beginning a career in South Africa as graphic designer at Ogilvy Advertising, Stagg then co-founded the UFO Collective, becoming a key figure in SA's early hip hop and dance music scene and producing Africa's first rave the World Peace Party and first electronic music venue Club Eden. Later, in the United States, he produced Leonardo Di Caprio's millennium event and ran creative departments and projects for major media corporations (Cartoon Network, Disney, Paramount, Warner Bros.) developing launch campaigns for shows Dexter’s Laboratory, Johnny Bravo and Powerpuff Girls, Batman Beyond and the Star Trek franchise.

Stagg played a design role in the early days of Disney.com and Hollywood Records, and later launched web presences for CBS radio stations (KROQ.com, KCBS.com) before creating the Cathouse, the first weekly live streaming variety show (1999 to 2000). The term "Webisode" was coined for Stagg’s web-animated series "The 7th Portal," produced and voiced by Stan Lee in his only non-Marvel super hero franchise.

He has held the position of Communications Chair at LACMA’s Graphic Arts Council.

As Video Director of ForYourArt.com, he coined the arts portal's name and video direction, working with art world figures (Hans Ulrich Obrist, Yoko Ono, Mike Kelley, Marina Abramovich). His influence extends to street art with the “Great UNCoverup” with Bettina Korek, as US consultant to Banksy for the "Barely Legal" exhibit, and curator of the Nelson Mandela Mural by Shepard Fairey.

As Media Arts Instructor Stagg has lectured at UCLA D|MA, CalState LA and AFDA. He has been awarded Webbys and the Murrow Prize.