HIJACK Art from RRFA

September 16, 2025/Robin Rile

Born in Los Angeles in 1993, Jacques Guetta, better known by his street name HIJACK, grew up with spray paint in the air and creativity on every wall. As the son of Mr. Brainwash (Thierry Guetta), one of the world’s most recognizable street/pop artists, HIJACK’s early years were spent surrounded by the likes of Banksy, Shepard Fairey, and Space Invader. While this might sound like a ready-made career path, Jacques has always been determined to carve his own space in the art world rather than simply follow in his father’s footsteps.

HIJACK’s work straddles the line between street and fine art, blending stencils, spray paint, and oil with references to art history and pop culture. His signature imagery often features anonymous black silhouettes paired with bold, ironic slogans such as “YOU’RE NEVER TOO YOUNG TO DREAM BIG” or “THE SKY IS NOT THE LIMIT.” These figures—children, lovers, rebels—stand in for all of us, encouraging viewers to question, laugh, and dream. The results are layered with both humor and critique, offering an accessible yet thought-provoking entry point into contemporary society.

His first major breakthrough came in 2013 with a sold-out exhibition at Mead Carney Fine Art in London. From there, HIJACK’s profile grew quickly, with his work appearing in cultural hotspots from Los Angeles to Tokyo. Collaborations with international artists like Cope (New York) and Dragon 76 (Japan) reinforced his global reach. Today, his canvases and prints are just as likely to be found in respected galleries as on gritty city walls.

Critics often point out the challenges of being “the son of Mr. Brainwash,” with inevitable comparisons between father and son. Yet, where Thierry’s art is often exuberant, maximalist, and media-driven, HIJACK’s voice has developed a sharper, more ironic edge. His silhouettes and slogans carry a youthful directness, appealing to a generation that sees art not only as something to collect but as something to live with, share, and post.

As one gallery description puts it, HIJACK’s works are “imaginative, brilliantly constructed, and imbued with humor and irony.” They are both playful and critical, capable of making a passerby chuckle while also sparking a conversation about ambition, society, and the very nature of art. In this sense, HIJACK continues the tradition of the great street artists before him—using walls and canvases as a space for dialogue—but with a voice that is unmistakably his own.