Jay Howell, the energetic cartoonist behind the beloved characters of Bob's Burgers, is turning Charleston into a playground for fans of kinetic, narrative art. On October 17, Hed Hi Studio will host a lively showcase of 15‑20 large‑scale drawings, where visitors can also sit for on‑the‑spot portraits rendered in the show’s signature cartoon style.

The event blends gallery sensibility with a backyard‑party feel: art prints line the walls, hot dogs sizzle nearby, and the Athens‑based band Monsoon provides a soundtrack that echoes the punk‑surf‑skate culture that fuels Howell’s work. It marks the final installment of a three‑part collaboration between Hed Hi Studio and Rough House Pictures, the production outfit behind the Bob's Burgers series and other off‑beat projects.

Howell’s résumé stretches beyond television—co‑creating Sanjay and Craig, collaborating with Vans, and even lending his line work to Guns N’ Roses—yet he insists on the title of cartoonist rather than traditional artist. This self‑identification feels authentic in a space that celebrates the subcultures he inhabits, from skate parks to punk‑inspired murals.

Now a resident artist for Danny Wimmer Presents, Howell spends his time traveling between festivals and sketching in a 'dark room' that he describes as a 'weird ball of joy.' His return to South Carolina, a state he hasn’t visited since a youthful skateboarding trip, promises a relaxed, high‑five atmosphere where fans can meet the creator behind the iconic animated world.

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