The French street artist, Thierry Guetta, also known as Mr. Brainwash (French, b. 1966), creates artwork blurring the line between pop art, street art, and contemporary art. Known initially through his inclusion in Banksy’s 2010 documentary “Exit Through the Gift Shop,” he has become a tremendously sought-after artist among an international contingent of collectors. Our article explores the evolution of Mr. Brainwash’s career and examines his paintings’ rising prices over the past 10 years.
Early Beginnings
Guetta’s artistic journey began as a documentary filmmaker, documenting street artists and gaining access to their world. During the process of filming, he met several of the biggest street artists in the world, including LA-Based painter Shepard Fairey and the anonymous British street icon known as Banksy. He eventually picked up a spray can himself and began creating street art under the name “Mr. Brainwash.”
Mr. Brainwash’s style is heavily influenced by pop art and street art, blending bright colors, bold lines, and layers of stencils to create iconic images of celebrities and pop culture icons. His work often incorporates messages of nostalgia, love, peace, and positivity, making it accessible to a wide audience.
The Rise of Mr. Brainwash
A solo exhibition of Mr. Brainwash’s work, entitled “Life is Beautiful,” was held in Los Angeles in 2008 where it attracted thousands of visitors and built an international following for him as an artist in his own right. An deep-dive into his rise to fame resulted in the documentary “Exit Through the Gift Shop” in 2010, produced by Banksy.
Even though the documentary was controversial (as Banksy is prone to be), Mr. Brainwash’s popularity continued to rise. A number of solo exhibitions boosted his popularity around the world, including in Miami, London, Italy, New York, and Paris. His work has also been featured in group exhibitions alongside other famous artists like Banksy, Shepard Fairey, KAWS and Damien Hirst. We hosted our first exhibition in Miami with Mr. Brainwash during Art Basel Miami Beach in 2014.
Collecting Mr. Brainwash Paintings
We’ve found art lovers and investors can both benefit from collecting Mr. Brainwash artwork. Mr. Brainwash’s paintings tend to be highly sought-after and have continued to command high prices at auctions, exhibitions, and first and secondary market gallery sales. In 2021, his painting “Mickey and Marilyn” sold for $290,000 at a Phillips auction in New York, far surpassing its pre-sale estimate of $120,000 – $180,000.
Market data indicate that Mr. Brainwash’s average painting price has steadily increased over the past decade. The average price of his paintings in 2011 was $5,000 – $10,000. By 2015, that average had risen to $20,000 to $30,000. For example, in 2011, a Mr. Brainwash painting titled “Kate Moss” sold for $13,000. By 2019, that same painting was valued at $100,000 – $150,000. The prices for many of his paintings on canvas and wood now sell well into the six-figure range.
The recent opening of Mr. Brainwash’s personal museum in Beverly Hills is believed to further cement his legacy as a world-class artist, investment and talent. The vast facility is in-and-of itself a work of art incorporating various facets of the artist’s mental backflips, juxtapositions and whimsy. We had the opportunity to have a private, guided tour just prior to the public opening in January of 2023. You can read more about the museum HERE.
In addition to being a compelling investment, Mr. Brainwash’s paintings also contribute to a dynamic collection of premium contemporary art. While we may be biased, we’ve found the rise of Mr. Brainwash’s work to become counted among our most prized artistic possessions, rewarding investments in art and fun conversation starters. We’ve encouraged our international family of collectors to check with us frequently as the artist sends us new works and we have interesting opportunities crop up. See more at www.robinrile.com or contact us at +1(813)340-9629 via voice, text or WhatsApp to discuss further.
