#Street #artist #Thierry #Guetta #works #Surrey #sale #Antique #Collecting
When Street Art first exploded on the scene in the noughties, one of the biggest names was Mr Brainwash, the working identity of French artist Thierry Guetta (b.1966), whose work is set to go under the hammer at Surrey auctioneer Ewbanks on July 25.
He had his first solo exhibition in Hollywood in 2008, the preview securing the cover of LA Weekly, one of the most widely read publications on the West Coast. Over the next couple of years, landmark solo shows followed in New York and London, with prices rising to six figures for one-off star pieces. He is also celebrated for the two vast murals he created in New York in remembrance of the victims of 9/11.
The rich and famous have clamoured to buy his art and commission Mr Brainwash, and he has designed cover artwork for albums by both Madonna and Michael Jackson, as well as campaign artwork for the red Hot Chili Peppers.
As one of the leading Street Artists who has proved that he has long-term appeal, Mr Brainwash remains a huge modern cultural influencer attracting all sorts of conspiracy theories, one of which is that he is just another front for Banksy – his colourful, graffiti-ridden pieces overlaid with stencil figures certainly echo the latter’s style.
This sale offers several works by the artist, including two 56cm square stencil and mixed media pieces accompanied by certificates of authenticity. The first is Working well together, signed centre right, and inscribed verso, which is guided at £4,000-6,000, the same estimate for the other one, Smile.
Elsewhere, New Paint Job (Pink), a 50.5 x 71cm framed and glazed colour screenprint that also comes with a Mr Brainwash certificate of authenticity verso, has hopes of £1,000-1,500.
