We caught up with our latest feature artist, Jesse Wright

painter, creator, illustrator…

For our latest Artist Series, we called on long-time pal of the brewery Jesse Wright aka JESWRI who recreated his iconic ‘Beer on the Brain’ mural with a cloudy gold wash - an ode to his love of our Cloudy Cider! The OG lives on a roller door at our Newtown Tasting Bar and is a YH favourite, so much so, it made its way onto some limited edition merch back in ‘18.

Right now, you can snag a free JESWRI original print with any case purchase by using the code ARTISTSERIES-JESWRI, as part of our Artist Series.

Home in lockdown, we had a yarn with Jesse on the project…

How is lockdown 2.0 treating you? 

Lockdown 2.0 can get fuuuucked. I already don’t like rules and I really don’t like being stuck inside either. Other than that, it’s actually nice to kinda chill for a minute. I’ve been flat out so it’s nice to rest my legs and catch up on Netflix before the world ends.

Have you used this time to be more creative, or just snacking and watching TikTok like the rest of the world?

I’m too much of a conspiracy theorist to use TikTok. I’ve actually used this time to start things I’ve been putting off. Like, launch my new podcast ‘TO THE BONE’. I’m working on my new solo show ‘DEREZZED’ and I’m using this time to experiment with my practise. Getting kinda bored. But yeah, helllllllllla snacks. So many snacks. I need to hit the gym.

We’re so stoked to have you part of our Artist Series, a slight tweak on our ‘Beer On The Brain’ mural in our Newtown Brewery. What brought on the gold rush?

Ayyyyyyy!!! Well, my favourite beverage has always been cider over beer (don’t shun me) - and nooooobody can beat the YH Cloudy Cider. So what better way to revamp ‘Beer on the Brain’ with a ‘clouded mind’.

Limited edition print - Beer on the Brain

Beer on the Brain mural @ Young Henrys

What was the original inspiration for the ‘Beer on the Brain’ artwork?

The original artwork was based on the legend Clint Ossington, one of many truly amazing people that work behind the scenes at YH. All of my artwork means something in one way or another. Osso and I have been working together since I started and I think it was rad (in my opinion) to celebrate his contribution. He’s one thirsty individual and truly one of the good ones. So I wanted to plater his mug on the door to live on for centuries.

You’ve been part of the YH fam for ages. How did this wonderful relationship blossom?

That’s true hey! A long time now. I’m stoked to be a core part of the brand if I’m being honest. I love bringing my unique energy and my funk to the many murals. It all started when I was invited to design one of the ‘Rock n Roll Circus’ posters in like 2017 or ‘18? Can’t remember. I think everyone was swept away. I was then asked to paint a mural in Wollongong at MTV Eats & Beats for the Young Henrys stand. I drove an hour, painted all night and the morning after in the rain, all of this on my birthday. I think the boys knew they had a workhorse on their hands.

Shortly following, I was given about 24 hours to work with Osso and forge liquid-gold in the form of infamous Foo Fighters collaboration. I legit didn’t sleep and smashed out the can collab in a super short amount of time. From there on out, I’ve just been killing everything I’ve gotten my grubby little hands on. Everything from shirt collaborations, to murals to can designs. 

Foo Town - Foo Fighters x YH Collab Beer. Image via Nikki To

You’ve recently opened up HONEY BONES gallery! In normal circumstances, that’d be pretty damn exciting. Did you at least get some good opening shows before lockdown?

HAHA! Shiieeeeet! HONEY BONES is our baby. We got our huge launch show called ‘Today Was A Good Day’ - which YH sponsored. The show had over 50 of my favourite local artists in the gallery and we counted over 500 thirsty heads in the room throughout the night. We were definitely stoked. We’ve got lotsssssssssss more to come, super excited to bring these rad shows to life.

Your style is pretty pop-culture influenced, is this a theme that carries out through the gallery?

My style is definitely pop-cultured. I like to refer to my shit as blackwork pop-culture. It’s a mut of a style. Just taken influences from everything I’m influenced by, from Frank Miller to Horiyoshi III. But pop-culture is ingrained in my mouse-on-a-treadmill like brain. It’s too much sometimes, I wouldn’t put that burden on my business partner.

But in saying that, I wouldn’t say it carries through. I think that HONEY BONES is definitely an extension of me to a degree. I’d like to think that the gallery is a unique calling of artists who just don’t fit in anywhere else. We’re a band of misfits. We look for the proverbial ‘lostboys’ of art. I’m over going to galleries with fine artists, and white walls and leaving after 5 minutes. HONEY BONES brings that skate and DIY element and gives people a place to be. I think in a way, HONEY BONES is an anti-gallery.

You’ve painted everything from Elton John, Mugatu & Star Wars to Aussie animals, The Simpsons and Kurt Cobain. What determines what you are going to paint, is each an expression of your favourite things or do people seek you out and throw ideas your way? Or both?

I paint representations of my busy mind. All my pieces are chock with meaning. I enjoy painting what appears to be random or nonsensical and then upon second glance you realise that the mural has a voice. Whilst it’s really rad to paint stuff that just visually looks cool, I think it’s important for my art to act as a megaphone to express what I’m feeling internally. The best way to look at my artwork is like a movie. You’ll watch it once and go ‘fuck yeah, that’s a good movie’ but when you’re watching it the second time you’re like.. How did I miss that? I don’t know. I’m a movie buff and an art-snob. I am what I am.

Image via Jesse Wright website.

What are some of your favourite projects you’ve worked on?

The MTV mural was definitely a big-staple in my career. I think my favourite commercial gig to date was a cockatoo made entirely out of Converse all-stars. That’s currently located in Melbourne emporium out front of the Converse store. Apart from that, I recently painted a really personal mural about my battle with mental health. So I think my favourite ones are the ones where I’m really expressing myself, you know? Ones that are just internal trophies. I still pinch myself when I see my designs on the TV for Japanese wrestling. So, yeah I dunno. It’s a mixed bag of lollies. I enjoy a lot of the things I do really, I wouldn’t be doing this full time if I didn’t.

Converse Cockatoo mural in Converse Store in Melbourne CBD.

What are your studio essentials - I’m talking playlist, tools, desk beers etc??

Ooooohhh.. looking around right now. What have we got. I’ve got dozens of toys scattered around. Plants are a must. I’ve got healthy devils ivies and monsteras framing my studio. There’s a fresh pot of black coffee, from yesterday haha. I’ve got my N64 for when I get bored, currently loaded with Star Wars Pod Racer slotted in. There’s an OG gameboy with Pokemon Red loaded up ready to catch ‘em all. Shit to paint with, obviously. Brushes and dozens of tubs of paint. Got some broken headphones to drown out the lead-foot upstairs (thin floorboards). CBD oil. Desk beers. Magic mushrooms. Design books. Comic books. 2 years of unfiled tax returns. A heavy wrestling belt, a working Infinity Gauntlet and most importantly my assistant of the stars. My 4-legged best buddy, Ace the rescue puppo - who comes on all my jobs with me. I realised as I’ve typed all this, that none of those are really essential, but what does this country know about the word ‘essential’? I surround myself with shit that makes me happy.

Jesse Wright studio essentials