He studied fine arts in Clermont-Ferrand and moved to Paris in 1979 as a painter. His first Parisian exhibition is at the Diagonal Gallery of Egidio Alvaro. It belongs to "Zig Zag in the Savann
In 1995 he collaborated on the writing of Eau douce, a film made by his partner Marie VERMILLARD. From 1997 he made films for the cinema and also videos presented during exhibitions. His short films The clothespins, The apple fig and almond are noticed. He then realized The End of Animal Reign in 2003, and then Continued Talk in 2010 in collaboration with Marie Vermillard. He continues simultaneously to paint and expose. The Roger-Quilliot art museum in Clermont-Ferrand devotes an exhibition to him in 2009. Joël Brisse also practices photography and writing. He sometimes acts as an actor in the cinema.