Mr. Brainwash and the Novelty of Familiarity

A confluence of gritty street art and colorful pop art, the paintings and sculptures of French artist Mr. Brainwash have become a well-recognized name in the scene of fine art. For over a decade, Theirry Guetta (aka Mr. Brainwash) has crossed the boundary from the street, into representation at some of the premier galleries in the world, exhibiting regularly at shows such as Art Basel Miami.

Born on November 11, 1966 in Garges-lès-Gonesse, France, Mr Brainwash moved to Los Angeles when he was 15 years old. The artist dropped out of high school to later run a successful vintage clothing store in LA. After visiting France in 1999, Mr Brainwash’s interest in street art began to take root. It was there where he learned that framed graffiti artist Space Invader (known for his work modeled on highly pixealted 1970s–1980s 8-bit video game images) was his cousin.

Picking up a video camera, Mr. Brainwash began recording Space Invader during his nightly escapades and those of other street artists including Shepard Fairey. Mr. Brainwash’s break into the mainstream lexicon came over a decade ago when his prominent feature in fellow street artist Banksy’s Academy nominated film “Exit Through the Gift Shop” made it’s debut. A whirlwind of sold-out art shows ensued and Mr. Brainwash came to be recognized as one of the leaders in the street-art movement among names such as Banksy, KAWS and Shepard Fairey.

Perhaps his works resonate with collectors as much for their use of iconic imagery such as Charlie Chaplin and Mickey Mouse as for their swaths of vibrant and layered dripping paint. Large in scale and impactful on a wall, the mixed-media paintings of Mr. Brainwash’s often incorporate the rawness of the street by using both spray-paint and neon lights.

In addition to paintings and sculptures which are available to collectors, the artist has collaborated with many international brands including Coca Cola, Marvel Comics and Hublot as well as creating record covers for famed musicians such as Madonna, Rick Ross and KYGO.

In 2013, Mr Brainwash was included in“Art Wars” an exhibition at Saatchi Gallery in London, England.

The artist currently works and resides in Los Angeles, California.

For a list of current Mr Brainwash art for sale contact [email protected]