"MR. BRAINWASH", THIERRY GUETTA (Garges-lès-Gonesse, France, 1966).
"Untitled (Self-Portrait with Camera)".2008.
Spray paint on cardboard.
Signed and dated on the back.
Size: 44 x 63 cm; 48 x 67 cm (frame).
The pseudonym Mr. Brainwash resonates strongly in today's contemporary and urban art scene. The works of the French artist (now based in Los Angeles) are sold at international auctions for increasingly high prices, and he is acclaimed by critics and artists such as Banksy. In fact, it was fellow street artist Banksy who dedicated and produced the documentary "Exit through the gift shop", a report that catapulted Mr. Brainwash to the top of the art scene, making him a global icon.
Among the most outstanding auctions of the urban artist: "Chaplin-Live is Beautiful", sold in Taiwan for €72,000 in 2017 or "Einstein", a work sold at Sotheby's USA for €75,000, also in 2017. In 2010, the same year in which the documentary was released, "Charlie Chaplin Pink" fetched €100,000 at auction.
Recently, the artist has collaborated with celebrities such as Madonna, Pope Francis, Pelé, Stan Lee and brands such as Coca Cola, Hublot, Lamborghini, Burger King and Mercedes-Benz, among many other works.
His latest creation is the mural dedicated to Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gigi, created in Los Angeles on 31 January 2020.
Mr. Brainwash marks his original works with a unique signature. In addition to being hand-signed, his signature includes his thumbprint and a sequence of numbers from a dollar note (as can be seen in the work presented with the number R877923621). It is possible to observe how in the work in question he also signs his mantra "Life is Beautiful".
Mr. Brainwash's works mix the American pop art style of Andy Warhol with a street Dadaism of great personality, resulting in an irreverent and groundbreaking art with notable similarities to the work of Banksy and Shepard Fairey, among other consolidated urban artists. Thierry Guetta, also known as Mr. Brainwash, entered street art in the 2000s as an amateur videographer. According to the artist himself, his stage name derives from the fact that "When you watch TV, when you buy clothes, when you go to a bar or a club or when you do anything, how do you get there? It's all brainwashing, which is why I used to take any kind of brand and put a spin on it". He continues, "I couldn't use my name when I started doing street art, so I remembered Mr. Brainwash and decided to use it. Mr. Brainwash's career developed throughout the 2010s, taking off when he starred in the documentary 'Exit through the gift shop' by fellow street artist Banksy, for which he was nominated for an Oscar in 2010. His work navigates the worlds of film, celebrity culture, music and sports. Mr. Brainwash has designed album covers for Madonna, Rick Ross and KYGO. His work has been featured in films, television and productions such as Molly's Game, Billions, Shameless and Kardashians. Currently, Mr. Brainwash continues to hold solo exhibitions and projects, creating opportunities to engage the public in the art world. Mr. Brainwash's passion extends his commitment to giving back to the community. His many projects include donating artwork in support of the Los Angeles LGBT centre, as well as creating 9/11 memorial murals to honour the victims who died in the attacks. It has also partnered with Product RED to raise AIDS awareness. Brainwash also provides annual support to organisations such as the Prince's Trust for the benefit of vulnerable youth.