Mr. Brainwash, the pseudonym for Thierry Guetta, is an artist and videographer whose graffiti and large-scale contemporary installations have gained international acclaim and are highly valued by art enthusiasts.
Biography
Thierry Guetta, a.k.a. Mr. Brainwash, was born in Garges-les-Gonesse, France, in 1966. When he was 15, his family moved to Los Angeles, where he attended Fairfax High school for about a year before dropping out later. Guetta delved into business, selling vintage clothes and occupying himself as an amateur videographer.
On a visit to France in 1999, Guetta met with his cousin, who worked as a street artist under the name Space Invader. Guetta filmed Invader creating his street art through the remainder of the visit. Meeting other street artists like Shepard Fairey, Zevs, Swoon, and Banksy, Guetta continued traveling the world and recording street artists at work.
Following Banksy’s suggestion that he make his own art, Guetta staged his own debut exhibition–now under the name Mr. Brainwash–in Los Angeles in 2008. Mr. Brainwash worked with Banksy on the street art documentary Exit Through the Gift Shop, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2010 and was nominated for an Oscar.
Following the success of the film, Mr. Brainwash showed his work at the Opera Gallery in London and the 2012 Olympic Games in London, as well as at pop-up shows in Miami and New York City; he also designed album covers and promotional projects for musical artists, including Madonna, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Wyclef Jean.
Mr. Brainwash’s Art
Mr. Brainwash’s art blends historic pop imagery and modern cultural iconography. He often works with layers of stenciled images, sculptures, and screen printing, and frequently takes on designs and color schemes that echo Andy Warhol’s silkscreen canvases.
Mr. Brainwash is also known for large public installations, such as at The Old Sorting Office and the Opera Gallery in London and a warehouse during 2010 Art Basel.
Market Value of Mr. Brainwash’s Artwork
Art by Mr. Brainwash has sold for anywhere from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars. His Warhol-esque pop culture mashups are particularly popular. The quick rise in commercial success says a lot about his artwork. His association with other famous street artists has continued to spur interest in his artworks.
Appraise and Sell Mr. Brainwash’s Artwork
If you have any works by Mr. Brainwash, including his paintings, sculptures, or screen printing, get in touch with our experts at Revere Auctions. If you would like to sell your Mr. Brainwash pieces, you can auction them at our location in St. Paul, Minnesota. We also offer our services online.
You can contact us anytime for a free auction estimate if you want to sell Mr. Brainwash’s artwork. We have a very simple process. After you send us the photos of the work, our experts will take a look, analyze, and provide you an estimate of the amount the artwork is likely to reach at auction.
If you need an appraisal for Mr. Brainwash’s work, we provide a certified appraisal report that can be used for estate taxes, donations, and insurance coverage. Our appraisals are compliant with Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice and are accepted by insurance companies, charity agencies, and the IRS.