Thierry Guetta, better known as Mr Brainwash, is an essential presence in any Street Art exhibition. The French artist and writer is a cousin of Invader. His career took a turning point in Los Angeles when he met Banksy, which inspired him to pursue art himself, as documented in the cult film Exit Through the Gift Shop.
His eclectic style fuses elements of Pop Art, graffiti, and popular culture, using vivid colors and bold collages. His works combine social critique with numerous references to commercial imagery. In 2008, he held his first major show, Life is Beautiful, which met with enormous success, attracting attention from media and collectors alike.
The work on display was created in 2019. It features a child admiring a red-painted heart. The background includes recurring tags from the artist, such as Life is Beautiful, along with references to pop culture—from American comics to works by Warhol and Keith Haring. Using materials such as wood, concrete, bricks, and street signs, Mr Brainwash recreates the urban context within his works. His compositions employ various techniques: stenciling, collage, dripping, and spray painting.
