Bean Art Galleries

Chief Ranbow Tree

Artist: Pete Rocha

This image of a former Great Plains tribal chief known as Rainbow Tree consists of 9,514 beans of over 15 different Jelly Belly flavours. The American Indians were the first people who lived in America - in other words the natives of America. They are known as Indians because when Christopher Columbus first arrived in America in 1492, he thought he'd reached India. American Indians are thought to have crossed North America from Asia about 20,000 years ago. Gradually, they moved out across North, Central and South America, and adapted a way of life to suit where they live now. By late last century, most of the tribes live on special reservations set up by the US Government.

George Washington

Artist: Pete Rocha

George Washington was born in 1732 into a Virginia planter family. His contributions to America are best detailed in a Congressional proclamation "first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen." Washington was a brilliant military strategist and was commander-in-chief of the American Revolutionary Forces. He became the first President of the United States and the only one to be elected unanimously, receiving all 69 of the electoral votes cast at the time. As you might expect, there are a lot of red, white and blue patriotic Jelly Belly jelly beans in this portrait as well as a good few Bubblegum and Orange Sherbet to draw out the highlights.

George Washington

Artist: Pete Rocha

This second Jelly Belly portrait of George Washington is more colourful than the first and he looks a little older. Perhaps the image is taken from the time when he was moving towards the end of this presidential career. Sadly for him Washington only had three years in retirement before he succumbed to a throat infection and he died in 1799. Queen Elizabeth 11 and Winston Churchill would many years later become distant cousins!

Benjamin Franklin

Artist: Pete Rocha

Benjamin Franklin, born in 1706 was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America. He was a leading author, printer, satirist, political theorist, politician, scientist, inventor, civic activist, statesman and diplomat. The ultimate Renaissance Man. Famous for his discoveries and theories regarding electricity, bifocals and the Franklin stove he was also responsible for forming both the first public lending library in American and the first fire department. He was described as "the most accomplished American of this age and the most influential in inventing the type of society America would become." The shimmering Jelly Belly portrait of Franklin surrounded by stars, vibrancy and colour truly celebrates his amazing contribution to American life.

Abraham Lincoln

Artist: Pete Rocha

Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States and ranked by scholars as one of the greatest. He successfully led the country through the American Civil War, preserving the Union and ending slavery. Formerly a country lawyer, and member of the US House of Representatives, he was in 1860, elected the first Republican President. This wonderful Jelly Belly portrait emphasises Lincoln’s piercing blue eyes and shows his great depth of character..

Abraham Lincoln

Artist: Pete Rocha

Lincoln successfully rallied public opinion through his rhetoric and speeches, his Gettysburg Address being just one example when he spoke of the events of the Civil War and described the ceremony at Gettysburg as an opportunity not only to consecrate the grounds of a cemetery, but also to dedicate the living to the struggle to ensure that "government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth". Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in 1865 at the age of 56. The image of this Lincoln Jelly Belly portrait is taken from the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC and was created with lots of Very Cherry and Cinnamon mingled with Candy Floss with Blueberry and Berry Blue sitting alongside Coconut and Cream Soda. Orange, Cantaloupe and Liquorice provide the shade.

Ronald Reagan

Artist: Pete Rocha

Ronald Reagan was born in 1911. He became a famous screen actor and an even more famous 40th President of the United States. Reagan started his political career as a Democrat but became a Republican in the early 1960s after which he was elected Governor of California. He was defeated in his run for the Republican presidential nomination in 1968 as well as 1976, but won both the nomination and election in 1980. Reagan left office in 1989 as one of the best loved presidents in US history. As president, Reagan implemented sweeping new political and economic initiatives. What made him popular however was his charm and extraordinary gift for communication. Reagan inspired the first Jelly Belly portrait which took 6 months and 10,000 Jelly Beans to create.

Ronald Reagan

Artist: Pete Rocha

It was whilst he was on the Presidential trail that a journalist asked Reagan how he relaxed and managed to give up his passion for pipe smoking. He picked up a handful of jelly beans by way of an answer. The story gathered momentum and soon Jelly Belly jelly beans were identified as Reagan’s special treat. Reagan had been a Jelly Belly fan from day one when they were invented in 1976. His favourite flavour was Liquorice although Blueberry was invented especially for him in 1981 when three and half tons of red, white and blue Jelly Belly jelly beans were sent to Washington for the presidential inauguration celebrations. There is still a special bean holder carved into the wall of Air Force One where the sitting US President can secure his supply of Jelly Belly beans.

Martin Luther King

Artist: Pete Rocha

Martin Luther King Jnr. was born in 1929. His work to end racial segregation and discrimination through non-violent means secured his place in the pantheon of human rights icons and in 1964, he became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize by the time of his assassination in 1968, he had refocused his efforts on ending poverty and opposing the Vietnam War. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was established as a U.S. national holiday in 1986. The Jelly Belly portrait of Martin Luther King explodes with laughter and energy and is a wonderful image. There is a predominance of yellows, oranges and pinks as well as browns, blacks and blues.