JOLY BEART

JOLY BEART! (HOLY·BART, b. 1992, Caloocan, Philippines) is both an artist’s name and a character based on a chicken leg bone with two emotions: happy and sad. Initially named Jolly Heart, it was later altered to Joly Beart by replacing “H” with “B” in ‘Heart’ and reducing the double “L” in ‘Jolly’ to a single one to reflect the initials of its creator, John Brian, also known as Brike.

Joly Beart’s journey began in March 2023 with illustrations. Initially, the character’s design was inspired by a popular local fast-food chain. It ventured into selling merchandise such as stickers and art prints and eventually expanded into painting to deepen its connection with people. Joly Beart’s work is inspired by daily life, including the creator’s experiences, often translating heavy topics into dark humor. The preferred mediums include acrylic on canvas, brush pen, and markers, drawing influence from the Pop art movement and lowbrow art, and using bright and pastel colors to bring light to heavy experiences.

Despite being in the early stages of his artistic career, Joly Beart was invited to participate in his first group show at one of the largest local art festivals in the Philippines, the Xavier Art Fest, in January 2024, under The Greyspace Gallery. He actively shares his artwork on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, with Instagram being particularly effective for showcasing his work and connecting with artists, art enthusiasts, and gallery owners. He is also a co-founder of the Kamuni Collective, his own art collective.

Looking ahead, Joly Beart is excited about future plans, including entering the art toys scene and expanding merchandise offerings to include t-shirts, keychains, and tote bags. He aims to become a full-time artist, creating more artwork to bring joy and alleviate stress for everyone, which is one of his primary objectives.