fnnch — Anonymous ‘Honey Bear’ Street Artist

Fnnch (born 1986, St. Louis, Missouri) is an anonymous American street and pop artist based in San Francisco, best known for his now-iconic ‘Honey Bear’ images that are bright, optimistic symbols he describes as “emblems of happiness.” After relocating to the Bay Area in his early adulthood, fnnch quickly became enamored with the city’s thriving street-art culture but noticed gaps in representation and accessibility. In his view, street art offered something museums and galleries often could not: art that is free, democratic, and available to everyone. This conviction launched his career, armed with multilayer stencils and spray paint, he began creating murals throughout the city, eventually expanding his reach to audiences worldwide.

Fnnch identifies as a contemporary pop artist, blending recognizable objects, playful imagery, and graphic color sensibilities with the raw immediacy of street art. While he paints a variety of motifs, the Honey Bear is borrowed from the nostalgic plastic honey bottles found in American kitchens, and has become his signature. These figures appear meditative, cheeky, celebratory, or dressed in playful personas depending on the iteration. His murals can be found across San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Chicago, St. Louis, Tel Aviv, and Hong Kong, and his work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, VICE, and the San Francisco Chronicle. Collaborations with major brands such as J.Crew, TOMS Shoes, and Benefit Cosmetics have further cemented his cultural presence.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, fnnch created one of his most beloved community projects: The Honey Bear Hunt. Families could purchase low-cost Honey Bear prints to place in their windows, and fnnch published an interactive map that allowed children and adults alike to “hunt” for the bears throughout their neighborhoods. The project provided connection, joy, and movement during a period of isolation, and became a defining symbol of resilience and togetherness in the Bay Area.

An alumnus of Stanford University, fnnch has created several Honey Bears dedicated to the school including the celebrated “I.T. Bear.” His sculptural Honey Bears have appeared at Burning Man for six consecutive years, culminating in the artist’s dream project: the Burner Bear, complete with Robot Heart–inspired glasses and a dust-protective buff. In 2025, he launched the fnnch Museum, a year-long retrospective hosted inside one of San Francisco’s legendary Painted Ladies, an immersive tribute to a decade of Honey Bear art.

Beyond murals, fnnch creates unique paintings and limited works that are highly sought after in both the primary and secondary markets. His art is found in private collections across 48 U.S. states and 20 countries, and his public and corporate installations include the City Museum in St. Louis, Facebook Headquarters, Google, General Motors, and Stanford University. He has exhibited in galleries throughout San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Explore fnnch at DTR Modern Galleries

DTR Modern Galleries debuted fnnch’s work on the East Coast in May 2024 at the Boston location, introducing collectors to one of the most influential and instantly recognizable street artists working today.