He grew up without neighbors in the Brazilian countryside. Now his art colors cities around the world.

Artist João Incerti was raised on a farm in Teresópolis, deep in the Brazilian countryside, far from galleries, far from screens, far from anything that looked like the art world. What he had instead was nature, silence, and an instinct for drawing that never left him. That foundation, raw, organic, deeply felt, still powers everything he makes.

Today his murals cover entire walls across cities, his paintings sell to collectors worldwide, and his work carries titles like The Dive, The Trust, The Restart — small philosophical statements disguised as art. Joyful, spiritual, tropical, mystic: those are the words other people use to describe it. João, funnily enough, refrains from describing his own work, so he just agrees and keeps painting.

At Jimmy Lion, we've always believed that personality lives in the details — a sock, a print, a flash of color that stops you in your tracks. When we discovered João's work, something clicked immediately: here was an artist who thinks about color the way we do, who believes that what you wear can carry real meaning. Two worlds, one frequency. 

The result is a collection of socks, tees and swimwear that began in Brazil and ends up coloring your day-to-day. We think that's a pretty incredible journey: from one person's creativity to thousands' worlds. So we sat down with the artist — to talk about where all of it comes from, and to see Rio through his eyes.

Your work gets described as joyful, spiritual, tropical, mystic — but you say you don't really know how to describe it yourself. Do those words land, or do you tune them out and just paint?
People have different interpretations about my work, I just accept all of them. My aesthetic is in constant mutation so I try to not define it and just take each painting as a singular piece that tells its own story. So I think I just turn them out and paint hahaha. 

You grew up on a farm in Teresópolis before moving to Rio de Janeiro. Two very different worlds. How did that contrast shape you?
I think that contrast shaped me as a very curious guy that loves to try new things in my own way. Growing up on a farm I was by myself most of the time so I think that this made me somehow an authentic person since I didn’t have many references to look for… When I moved to the city I discovered a whole new world, a place where I could expand my creativity and express myself! But the experience I had living in nature is so strong. I'm so glad I grew up there, when I go back to the farm I feel so peaceful. 

You spent years designing prints for the fashion industry before going independent. What did it teach you — and what did it free you from?
It taught me so much. Designing prints is amazing and I love it! It taught me everything about color combinations, visual appeal, symmetry, and commercial approach. More than that, working on fashion gave me the confidence to become an artist because before that I didn’t see myself that way. With time I started seeing my prints as pieces of art and only after that I started painting. Now as an independent artist I’m free from the commercial obligations, I can create for myself, expressing my own experiences in life! Working for a brand limits you to the brand’s universe and story, now I tell my own story. 

Your murals take over entire spaces. How do you approach that scale — and what does it feel like when a wall comes to life?
I like to create immersive experiences with my murals, and for that I have to take over the whole space! It requires a lot of patience and confidence because during the progress sometimes it looks ugly, unfinished etc. I have to trust my vision, and it’s great when I finish and see it all come to life the way I imagined. It’s magical!

In the collection Joao Incerti x Jimmy Lion, are recurring shapes as in your daily work, such as eyes, animals, organic forms. Do they carry meaning for you, or are they more instinctive?
Everything has a meaning somehow. I’m obsessed with eyes, I keep putting them everywhere! I have a strong connection with felines in general, so there are a lot of cats and leopards in my paintings and we are using one for our collaboration! For our collection I wanted to make it look fun and joyful in a way that everyone can connect to it! 

This collection spans socks, tees and swimwear. How do you translate art that usually lives on a canvas onto something people wear every day?
I like to wear art, I love clothes with personality, with identity! And I also love fashion! So translating my art into textile is easy to me! You have to keep the bold effect, the colors, the joy, and still feel pretty wearing that! That’s what I try to do when I make collaborations, tell a story that resonates with me but also with other people, make them feel prettier and more confident. 

Color is at the heart of everything you do. Is choosing a palette instinct, emotion — or more method than it looks?
A mix of all. There is a lot of methods of course, I study color theory and love all about that, but there is also instinct and personal taste. It varies from piece to piece! Of course I have my safe colors, the ones I have experienced already… Working on new color palettes is always challenging!


Your paintings carry titles like The Dive, The Trust, The Restart — little universal truths. Where do those ideas come from?
My ideas come from my own experiences in life, my personal life, thoughts about the struggles I’m going through. I started making art to really express myself to myself, then people started liking it.. But I’m very curious and excited with new things, so my ideas come from all different places. I'm always taking notes and sketching. 

Is there a color you keep coming back to, without really knowing why?
Gold? ahahahaha I keep trying to stop using gold but I can’t… I just love it! I know it’s not a real color but it is to me.

If your paintings had a soundtrack, what kind of music would we hear? Mention a song (love to add new stuff to our Jimmy Lion Playlist)
“Fullgás” by Marina Lima! I love the vibe of that music, and every time it plays here in Rio everyone sings together, it’s so good! 

Speaking of "your Rio": what are your go-to spots for…?

• a swim, beach or mountain waterfall: Praia do Leme is my favorite but lately I’ve been going to Praia do Flamengo 
• art or a gallery that actually excites you: This new place Mercado Central have been really nice to see art, it’s a mix of gallery and creative space, they have restaurant, bars around, they make events on the street, it’s really cool! And there is this carioca artist called Iza Ananse that is my current art obsession, he is my friend and I love his art. 
• food that feels like home: Rice and beans with grilled chicken,french fries and farofa!! My favorite! We call it PF (Prato Feito) and you find it in most executive menus. 
• a walk when you need to think: Aterro do Flamengo! I just take a city bike and go! It’s amazing. 
  

• For music — live or otherwise: For live music sometimes I go to Cardosão bar, they play Jazz on Tuesdays. For dancing I go to Destilaria Maravilha or Bafo da Prainha! And for parties I’m always looking for the queer underground scene!! V de Viadão is a good one to look for, and they have other secondary smaller parties. 
• a wall worth stopping in front of: Maybe Santa Tereza can be nice for that! 
  

Thank you socks much for reading!