MR. BRAINWASH (FRENCH, b.1966)
Balloon Girl
signed 'Mr Brainwash' (centre right)
acrylic, spray paint and mixed media
126.5 x 96.5 cm (49 3/4 x 38 in.)

Dimensions: 126.5 x 96.5 cm (49 3/4 x 38 in.)

Provenance
With Whitewall Gallery, Guildford, 28 September 2021, where purchased by the present owner

Please note a Certificate of Authenticity is included with this work

Born in 1966 in France, Thierry Guetta, professionally known as Mr. Brainwash is a Los Angeles-based street artist. Guetta’s fascination with the clandestine lives of street artists was documented in the British documentary Exit Through the Giftshop which was directed by Banksy. The film sets Guetta, who at the time ran an upscale vintage clothing shop, within the milieu of street artists working in LA. The film follows and documents his meetings with many characters, including cousin Invader and fellow street-artist Shepard Fairey.

Following the movie, Banksy suggested to Guetta, given his fascination with street artist, that he himself should experiment with the medium - this promoted the birth of Mr. Brainwash.

Since his first solo show in 2008, Mr. Brainwash has been experimenting with modern art. His delicate balancing act has been the deliberate convergence of pop art and street art. Mr. Brainwash's frequently used phrase "Life is Beautiful," inscribed on many of his works, has been used to emphasise the goodness and beauty of our existence, a prominent theme and subject for the artist.