Malvados is the creative universe born from the mind of Jesse Rivas, an artist whose work blends pop culture, surrealism, and his roots. The name translates from Spanish for evil, wicked, or villains. This word pays homage to both his Guatemalan heritage and his lifelong fascination with pop culture's iconic antagonists. As a kid growing up in Inglewood, Rivas had a bit of a wild streak with ditching school, staying out too late, doing all kinds of things he probably shouldn’t have. His father would scold him by shouting, “¿Andabas de malvado ayer?” (roughly: “Were you out being wicked again?”). That phrase stuck like paint on canvas in his mind; part chastised, part inspiration.
Rooted in his memory and his love for supervillains, Malvados became more than a name, it became a symbol! Though you’ll often see it stylized as Malvadxs, the “X” drops the masculine “o” to make space for all identities. Because honestly, there's a malvado or malvada in all of us and Jesse’s here to celebrate it through art.
Jesse Rivas is a Los Angeles-based artist whose work is shaped by personal history, culture, and the city around him. Born to Guatemalan and Salvadoran immigrants, he lost his mother to cervical cancer at the age of nine and moved with his father to Inglewood. There, exploring the city on foot and by skateboard, he absorbed the layers of LA life. Surrounded by both struggle and community, he found inspiration in the streets—experiences that continue to fuel his art today.
Jesse's creative journey began with stick-figure comic strips and anime-inspired drawings in middle school. It wasn’t until a beginner’s oil painting class in community college that everything clicked. Soon after, he began painting portraits for friends, pushing himself to learn by doing. He later joined the art program at CSU Channel Islands, where he deepened his connection to his heritage and found the confidence to merge his personal story with his creative vision.
Today, Jesse’s paintings fuse elements of surrealism and pop art, often blending 2D and 3D aesthetics to create bold, distinctive pieces. His goal is to grow with each work—exploring new mediums, new scales, and new spaces. As he works toward making art his full-time career, Jesse remains committed to evolving and sharing his story while he continues his artistic journey.