Thierry Guetta (aka Mr. Brainwash) is a French born street artist, famous for his works charged with joy and positivity.
He started his career as street artist after the 2010 film Exit Through the Gift Shop. Directed by Banksy, it featured Mr. Brainwash himself as the protagonist.
Appropriating images from art history and popular culture, Mr. Brainwash merges stencil characters like Einstein and Charlie Chaplin with his iconic mottos like Life Is Beautiful and Follow Your Dreams.
Mr. Brainwash - Limited Edition Prints
Mr. Brainwash, Thierry Guetta’s art name, produces both unique works and limited editions of prints and posters.
Limited editions, created in a predetermined number of copies, allow more people to have access to the artist's works at more affordable prices than a unique work.
The first artworks created by street artist Mr. Brainwash already featured certain elements and subjects that we still find in his artworks today. Over the years, Mr. Brainwash has developed a unique and perfectly recognizable style, which is also evident in the limited editions.
Mr. Brainwash's art blends both Pop Art and Street Art. He pays homage to celebrities such as Muhammed Ali, Madonna, and David Bowie, but also references great masters of contemporary art such as Jeff Koons.
Mr. Brainwash - Old Edition
The old limited editions made by the artist between 2008 and 2018 are very different from the more recent ones. The main difference concerns the use of color; Mr. Brainwash's old prints prefer black-and-white subjects with only sporadic pops of color.
These old limited editions include President's Day - Chaplin (2018). The subject of this work is George Washington, to which, however, the street artist adds Charlie Chaplin's iconic mustache and hat.
Among the most iconic subjects in these works are Einstein and the child featured in the work Smile. Mr. Brainwash took inspiration from these works to study the subjects that have made him internationally famous and recognized today.
Mr. Brainwash - International stars
The subjects of his early limited editions feature well-known faces from the 20th century, such as Martin Luther King, Salvador Dali, and Muhammad Ali. They also feature more recent figures, such as Madonna and Obama, all iconic in pop culture and well known to the general public.
Mr. Brainwash - Today
The subjects of old limited editions have now become true icons in the works of Mr. Brainwash. In these new artworks, the artist blends elements of street art with his iconic objects, surrounding them with a vibrant expression of color. In the background over time, references to great contemporary art artists such as Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Keith Haring have also been added.
To date, Mr. Brainwash's limited editions are not limited to artworks on paper; these also include his now-famous spray cans and some sculptures, such as Life is Beautiful. Again, the splashes of paint and bright colors are what take center stage.
In addition to his recognizable style, what has made him known in the art world is also his collaboration with famous artists, including Banksy. Mr. Brainwash took part in the documentary Exit Through the Gift Shop, directed by Banksy himself.