One of the most eye catching things in the downtown core of a city is Graffiti, also known as Street Art. In the past years Street Art has gained so much attention from art aficionados that it can be classified as modern art. The works of great artists such as Banksy, Shepard Fairey, and Space Invader are out in the streets of famous cities all over the world. Although many art aficionados would pay top money for artwork from all of these street artists, the most controversial and successful street artist is Mr. Brainwash, also known as Thierry Guetta because of his interesting, seemingly unoriginal pieces.
Before he was known as Mr. Brainwash, Thierry Guetta was a regular guy from Paris, France that lived in Los Angeles, California that recorded everything he did. Thierry was always around Street Art somehow because his cousin was already well known street artist Space Invader. Thierry travelled to Paris one year and as usual, recorded everything he did. Fascinated with what his cousin was doing, Thierry began to record Space Invader while he would make his art and while he helped him put up the famous Space Invader mosaics on walls all over Paris. This was the introduction of Thierry into Street Art.
Once Thierry had returned to Los Angeles, he would continue to obsess with recording everything he did, but would also continue to obsess over producing Street Art. With his cousin Space Invader being in Los Angeles for a period of time, Thierry began to interact with other Street Artists. That is when he met Shepard Fairey, the creator of OBEY. While recording and helping Shepard Fairey, Thierry learned that he could print large scale images, which could then be glued onto the walls of Los Angeles. By learning this method, it started the early stages of Thierry’s Street Art career.
Being exposed to Street Art and having knowledge on how to execute these art pieces, Thierry set out to become the next big Street Artist. Thierry would begin going on night long ‘missions’ to put up his artwork in the streets of Los Angeles. The first piece that Thierry would make was an image of his face looking into a camera lense, which reflected his two passions, Street Art and videography. Thierry would then begin to realized that his dream of being an actual artist could become a reality.
From the start of joining the Street Art community, Thierry always wanted to meet the world known street artist, Banksy. Eventually that day would come true. While being in Los Angeles for his art show, Banksy was looking for a guy that knew the city inside out, so he could showcase some of his pieces and that is when Thierry came into the picture. Thierry did anything and everything for Banksy, something Banksy thought was weird, but also something he appreciated. Eventually, Banksy motivated Thierry to showcase his art with the world by having an art show. His first ever show, Life is Beautiful, would be the begin of an incredible journey for Thierry Guetta.
Now having his first ever show, Thierry Guetta decided to change his name to Mr. Brainwash. With referrals from the likes of Banksy and Shepard Fairey, the expectation for Life is Beautiful, was incredibly high. This is when the controversy in ‘the most controversial street artist’ came from. Mr. Brainwash would use images that he would find interesting and would add a little twist to them and claim them as a Mr. Brainwash art piece. A well known Mr. Brainwash piece would be the mural of the Beatles with different coloured bandanas on their faces. Although this may seem like his artwork is original, it also raised some eyebrows because of the similarity to other artists.
Nevertheless, Mr. Brainwash and his first gallery, Life is Beautiful, walked out with a lot of success by gaining one million dollars in a short period of time. What may have seemed like a joke by telling Mr. Brainwash to become a Street Artist and to have an art gallery, turned out to be surprising and confusing to many great street artists
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