Mr Brainwash's Impact On Street Art

Mr Brainwash, also known as Thierry Guetta, uses figures and symbols from popular culture and creates unique colorful patchwork designs, inspired by graffiti. Mr Brainwash is an influential and provocative contemporary artist recognized for his dynamic and culturally vibrant artwork. Initially involved in organizing Hollywood events, he developed an interest in street art during a trip to France in 1999. Influenced by other street artists like Shepard Fairey or Banksy, he started creating graffiti, adopting the pseudonym Mr Brainwash. 

In 2010, Banksy directed the documentary “Exit Through the Gift Shop” revealing the fact that Mr Brainwash is not a purely fictitious character. This helped Mr Brainwash gain popularity and credibility in the street art scene, as it was nominated for an Oscar. 

His artistic style blends graffiti, stencils, and mixed media, drawing inspiration from pop culture art icons like Andy Warhol, as well as street artists such as Banksy. Mr Brainwash designed albums for famous celebrities like Madonna or Michael Jackson.

Discover some of our favorite artworks by this mysterious artist!

1) Balloon Girl

Mr Brainwash incorporates various pop culture references in his work, who adopt similar aesthetics. They use unconventional media in their creations. This particular artwork incorporates unmistakable Banksy elements, notably the iconic Girl With Balloon. He also pays homage to Andy Warhol with four Campbell spray cans (originally soup cans) and Mickey Mouse in the background. 

By placing Banksy and Andy Warhol in his art, Mr Brainwash makes a statement about his own value within the art scene. The mention of Mr Brainwash’s notorious positive statements such as “Enjoy Life”, “Keep it real” and “Life is beautiful” are unique to him. The signature touch “Life is beautiful” is evident in all his original pieces, as they all bear this mantra on the back.

2) Juxtapose Red – Follow your Dreams

In this piece, the artist includes the use of instantly recognisable figures such as Charlie Chaplin, Einstein and Mickey Mouse which are works from Banksy. The heart in the background is a reference to Keith Haring’s work. The slogans “love is the answer”, “follow your dreams” and “never give up” are also present in Banksy’s works of art. This work shows how Mr Brainwash juxtaposes different elements from various pieces, with the use of celebrities, whilst he shines references to other pop icons.

3) Stay Safe

This artist produced different artworks portraying the iconic Marylin Monroe, a subject Andy Warhol made a series on. Known for engaging with contemporary social issues such as the mural on Kobe & Gianna Bryant, the use of the title “Stay safe” of the artwork alludes to Covid-19 restrictions. Marylin Monroe wearing a bandana as a mask adds a layer of provocation and gangster-like image, humor, and potentially serves as a social satire of this serious situation.

4) Vintage Mona Lisa

This artwork presents a playful and vibrant interpretation of the original artwork, featuring red, green and white patterns. The addition of glasses challenges the traditional focus on Mona Lisa’s gaze and infuses a daring ‘gangster aspect’ to the piece.

Mr Brainwash’s undeniable impact on street art lies in his ability to captivate audiences, making it more accessible to the larger public, and fearlessly conveying messages of hope through his slogans.