ABOUT JOHN MABRY III
John Mabry III is an art teacher for Prince William County Schools. He graduated from the University of Mary Washington in 2025, with a Bachelor of Liberal Studies Degree in Studio Art, with a PreK-12 VA Licensure, and a minor in Digital Studies. John has always drawn closer towards the intersection of art and technology, finding paths of how both worlds collide. He frequently uses technology to help him share his unique perspectives on life through his paintings, sculptures, and videos.
John was born and raised in Northern Virginia. Since he was young, he always loved the arts. He went to Forest Park High School where he was accepted into their IT program and enrolled in their unique IT Graphics courses.
In 2018, he co-founded Ampped Up Studios, originally known as Ampped Up Squad. He and his brothers specialize in communications, photography, videography, and digital content. They tour around the country and around the world, documenting and sharing the stories of the those who were trapped, voiceless, and pushed away. They have helped various clients like Journey to Destiny Ministries, Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts, NanaLolaCouture, HiTechMODA, and Kojam Productions.
In addition to his primary work, he dedicates much of his personal time to filmmaking and videography; a passion that allows him to explore a wide range of narratives, from emotionally charged psychodrama to lighthearted, imaginative stories. His creative process is rooted in a deep appreciation for visual storytelling and the collaborative energy that emerges on set between the cast, production and crew members. Whether he is behind the camera, or in front of it, capturing nuanced performances of actors or carefully composing a scene to evoke a specific mood is what he finds immense fulfillment in shaping stories through a lens.
John’s background includes both formal and informal training. He has taken courses like video production and video art, which has given him a strong foundation in the technical aspects of filmmaking as well as the conceptual and experimental approaches that push creative boundaries. This dual perspective enables him to merge structure with spontaneity, crafting films that are both visually compelling and emotionally resonant.
John also enjoys loud and fast cars. In the summer of 2024, he recently parted ways with his project car, a 2012 Ford Fusion SE, that was the loudest in his neighborhood. He now has succumbed to an EV which is just as fast but lacks the angry and powerful roar he once knew and loved. In the future, he will one day drive his beloved monster on a new set of wheels.
