Nissue #24: fnnch, Artist.

If you’re from San Francisco or have visited the city in recent years, you probably have seen a honey bear. Perhaps no Bay Area artist in the last few years has gotten more attention — both good and bad — than fnnch, the artist behind these now ubiquitous street images.

Is he the harbinger of urban gentrification and the end of creativity, as his critics would claim? I’d rather believe (as I think most adults and every kid does) that he’s just one guy out there trying to make everyone a little happier, especially during these rough and crazy times.

Full disclosure: I knew fnnch years ago before he was fnnch, when we were both working at a (gasp!) tech start-up of some sort or another. It’s been wild for me to see this persona — this public yet enigmatic alias — emerge and become its own entity and identity. I mean, what better city is there than San Francisco to reinvent oneself in!?

Doing it fnnch by fnnch.

Nish: What is your idea of perfect happiness?

fnnch: Brainstorming ideas for new projects.

Nish: What was your worst job ever?

fnnch: Building other peoples’ dreams.

Nish: What was your first job ever?

fnnch: Steel saw operator.

Nish: What was your best job ever?

Getting paid to paint a 50' tall mural.

Nish: What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

fnnch: Getting too boisterous when I’m drunk.

Nish: What is the trait you most deplore in others?

fnnch: Thinking you are smarter than me without actually knowing anything about me.

Nish: What’s some advice you’d give to yourself at 23?

fnnch: Buy a lot of Bitcoin.

Nish: What is your greatest extravagance?

fnnch: I eat bacon every day.

Nish: You have exclusive dinner reservations for 4, excluding family and close friends, who are the three people (alive, dead or imaginary) you’d invite?

fnnch: Banksy, Seth Rogan, and Genie from Aladdin.

Nish: What is the theme song of your professional life?

fnnch: When I Paint My Masterpiece by The Band. We all hope that someday it will all make sense…

Nish: What is your motto?

fnnch: Pick a good project, do it, rinse, repeat.

Nish: What is something you’re really excited about right now?

fnnch: I try not to talk about upcoming projects — doing so robs them of some potency.

End Interview.

A favorite mural on Mission between 8th and 9th in San Francisco.

Like art? You might also enjoy my interviews with Kelly Tunstall, Cassandra Jenkins, and Kat Robichaud!