Jesus Antonio Rivera, professionally known as Demonbabies, is a multifaceted artist and director hailing from Metro Detroit but currently based in Los Angeles. His artistic repertoire encompasses a diverse range of mediums, including film, video, collage, painting, and performance.
Initially, Rivera was part of a Public Access Television collective, where he honed his skills by creating analog, guerrilla video art with friends. This early experience had a profound impact on his artistic style, instilling a raw, experimental approach that has remained a hallmark of his work.
As his career progressed, Rivera transitioned into commercial and music video production, striking a balance between professional industry work and his ongoing practice in underground media. His creative output frequently delves into themes of childhood trauma, mental illness, fractured memories, abandonment, and buried family histories.
Rivera's visual language is characterized by a distinctive blend of styles, ranging from lo-fi psychotronic, comedy, horror, and surreal absurdity to high-fidelity nightmare beauty. His work has been showcased globally in various settings, including galleries, print publications, and even clothing lines.
Throughout his career, Rivera has been actively involved in the art world, serving on the Board of Directors for Coaxial Arts Foundation for eight years and co-founding the cinema collective Cathode Cinema. This dedication to his craft has earned him recognition at the intersection of underground art and outsider media.
