Meet the artist
behind the brand
Bobo Bear is a collection of sexy gay bear characters
drawn by Roberto Nisi, an Italian illustrator in London.
It is followed online as drawings on social media
and bought as branded objects and clothing.
The artist Roberto’s story
Bobo was an introverted child, whose best friends were his pencils.
Roberto’s mother recalls that at two years old he started drawing circles and dots, and she claims it was far more advanced than the drawings of the average two-year-old. Bobo grew up drawing fantastical characters and stories.
As a teenager he wrestled with his identity and looked for answers to his sexuality in religion but ultimately he found the answer in art.
At 21 he joined an art school enabled himself to focus on perfecting his unique style of drawing characters.
To pay for this specialist education Bobo took a part-time job working in a supermarket. He graduated with good results but found it difficult to discover a job drawing cartoons in a small Italian city, so he became progressively more involved in the supermarket until one day he woke up manager.
Although surrounded by love in this period, life ultimately left Bobo feeling empty: he was hiding his sexuality first, and then quieting his inner voice and forgetting to dream. Trapped & surrounded by the sound of the cash registers, Roberto started escaping, searching the world beyond the isles with a pad and pencil, taking a bus, a train even or an occasional plane to rediscover inspiration in places more accepting of his passions, only to return the next day to open and close again supermarket doors.
A life changing reality check shook Roberto from the status quo
when an important man in his life lost a six months battle to cancer.
This was the wake up call, the motivation, the trigger
to change his life and try to realise his ambitions.
He collected his savings, packed his precious things, grabbed his pencils
and some paper and bought a direct ticket to London.
Growing daily, discovering new influences, drinking coffee in the metropolis and making new friends inspired him and then on a sunny day in London he awoke to rediscover his dreams again, but this time with a new focus: he drew Adam, his first gay character.
Adam’s and Roberto’s voyage of discovery delivers new illustrations and characters constantly. After starting in a store in central London, now Bobo’s merch can be found on sale in stores across Europe and the USA, online and on the pages of popular magazines!
What’s next for Roberto
(Bobo) and Adam?
More pencil on paper discoveries, new friends for Adam, new different collections coming soon and a lot of travelling to meet all their supporters who made a dream come true!