Thierry Guetta, better known as Mr. Brainwash is a world acclaimed, Los Angeles based graffiti artist. Born in France in 1966, Mr. Brainwash rose to prominence due to a heavily hyped exhibition and a Banksy-directed documentary entitled, “Exit Through the Gift Shop.” According to the 2010 documentary, Guetta was the owner of a used clothing store and an amateur videographer.
Mr. Brainwash came to the United States with his family years before he would become one of contemporary art’s largest and most confusing personalities. His videography captured the lives and artwork of various graffiti artists such as Banksy, Shepard Fairey and his cousin Space Invader, who fist introduced Mr. Brainwash to the wonders of street art. Having collected thousands of hours of footage, and putting himself at great risks whilst doing so, the experience changed Guetta’s life.Particularly after filming Space Invader on a visit to France, Mr. Brainwash was enthralled by the immediacy, impermanence and the danger of street art and as he watched Invader install video game mosaics in Paris, he became fascinated with the role of street art in modern culture.
A mixture of historic pop culture and contemporary cultural iconography, Mr. Brainwash has developed a subversive style and launched his graffiti hybrid into international stardom. The demand for his work has lead to a worldwide recognition from art collectors and street art enthusiasts alike. His work tells the story of playful juxtapositions of cultural icons and contemporary icons. Capturing icons such as Albert Einstein and Marylin Monroe to Kate Moss and Madonna, his work is recognisable for the vibrant palette and imitations of pop artists like Andy Warhol and Keith Haring.
After trying his hand at street art, Mr. Brainwash ventured into the contemporary art world and planned his first exhibition. “Life is Beautiful,” was the name of the show, hosted by Brainwash’s direction and involving local artists and contractors who created elaborate art installations to showcase in the heart of New York City.
The show was a real hit as Mr. Brainwash took the role of ‘hypeman’ by calling in favours from Fairey, Banksy and other artists. They welcomed thousands of visitors a day, tourists and locals enjoyed the show filled with hundreds of pieces of art, sculpture and installations encapsulating such varied styles.
We are thrilled to represent the incredible work of Mr. Brainwash at the Artmarket Gallery. A
collection of Uniques and Limited Editions are available at the Artmarket Gallery and you can
contact our Art Consultants to enquire about Mr. Brainwash’s work.
