Mr Brainwash

Mr Brainwash is a French artist born in 1966. He is famous for his colorful works created with a mixed technique combining collages and painting, often accompanied by his slogan « Life Is Beautiful ».

He is also featured in the film Faites le mur ! directed by Banksy, alongside other big names in urban art.

The work of Mr Brainwash is a meeting of pop art and street art, inspired by iconic artists from these movements. The artist plays with the codes of graffiti, the famous works of his peers, and the images of pop culture personalities. He thus creates unique works in an explosion of colors and cultural references.

The beginnings of his passion for street art

Thierry Guetta, who would later take the pseudonym Mr Brainwash, was born in Garges-lès-Gonesse, near Paris. His family moved to the United States and settled in Los Angeles when he was 15 years old. He became a merchant in the United States before turning to art. It was only at the age of 33, during a trip to France, that he began to develop a passion for street art, under the influence of his cousin, the famous artist Space Invader.

His cousin introduced him to urban art in the streets of Paris. The discovery of this fascinating world prompted Thierry Guetta to document all their urban escapades with his camera. Very soon, he started graffiti himself and chose his artist name, Mr Brainwash.

From then on, the artist began to work with graffiti before moving on to more complex works. Very quickly, Mr Brainwash started to draw inspiration from other famous artists: the black and white stencils of Banksy coexist with images inspired by Andy Warhol, in particularly colorful compositions. The characteristic style of Mr Brainwash was born, which would lead to his success a few years later.

Alongside his beginnings in street art, he also followed other artists with his camera, such as Shepard Fairey, also known as Obey Giant, before collaborating on the creation of a film directed by the current street art icon, Banksy.

Mr Brainwash, Banksy and success

The two artists met in the 2000s and quickly chose to collaborate. Mr Brainwash participated in Banksy's exhibition titled Barely Legal in Los Angeles before accompanying him in the making of his documentary Faites le Mur ! (Exit Through the Gift Shop), completed in 2010.

Between documentary and fiction, this film reveals the story of the meteoric rise of Thierry Guetta who became Mr Brainwash. The docu-fiction received great success and was nominated for an Oscar in 2011.

Following its release, Mr Brainwash quickly became a major figure in urban art. He is recognized by critics and art collectors worldwide, and is sought after to collaborate with many public figures.

Mr Brainwash has thus participated in various shows and television series, and created album covers for Madonna, KYGO, and rapper Rick Ross. The artist has also illustrated advertisements for several brands.

The universe of Mr Brainwash

The work of Mr Brainwash is characterized by his unique creative approach and innovative style. Drawing inspiration from icons of pop art and street art, Mr Brainwash reinterprets famous works and uses a thousand and one references to pop culture to create colorful and innovative pieces. His love for graffiti, the art with which he entered the world of street art, is revealed in the majority of his canvases and urban works.

His overflowing creativity expresses itself in his mixed technique works, generally combining painting and collage.

Among his most famous compositions are the multiple reinterpretations of Andy Warhol's painting depicting Marilyn Monroe, or those of the painting La Petite Fille au ballon (Girl With Balloon) by Banksy.

The sculpture Life Is Beautiful (« La vie est belle ») is also a flagship work of the artist, who signed a large collection in varied colors. This phrase is for him a true motto that he includes in a large part of his canvases, alongside other optimistic and benevolent messages like « Never give up » (« N'abandonnez jamais »), or the famous « Love is the answer » (« L'amour est la réponse ») raised by Albert Einstein in several of his canvases.

Would you like to buy a work by Mr Brainwash? Explore his Rise Art gallery to discover his editions currently for sale.