Your no-nonsense, slightly-obsessed guide to the street art sensation Mr Brainwash

Hierry Guetta, otherwise known as Mr. Brainwash, was born in France in 1966. Formerly a videographer and owner of a vintage clothes store, Guetta was introduced to the street art scene in the late ‘90s on a trip to Paris. After encouragement from Banksy to pursue a career in art, Thierry Guetta swiftly reinvented himself as artist ‘Mr. Brainwash’. Here, we share five interesting facts about the street artist.

1. His Career Took Off After a Banksy-Directed Documentary

Mr. Brainwash skyrocketed to fame after starring in Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010), a groundbreaking documentary directed by none other than the elusive street art legend, Banksy. The film follows French-born Thierry Guetta as he immerses himself in the underground world of street art, capturing footage of iconic figures like Shepard Fairey and Banksy himself.

As the documentary unfolds, Guetta undergoes a dramatic transformation—adopting the alias “Mr. Brainwash” and diving headfirst into creating his own art. The climax sees him putting on his first major exhibition, marking the official start of his street art career.

Exit Through the Gift Shop premiered at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival and later earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary Feature. The film’s success thrust Mr. Brainwash into the spotlight, helping him establish a vibrant and high-profile art career.

To this day, speculation swirls about whether Mr. Brainwash is a genuine artist or a living art experiment orchestrated by Banksy. Despite the rumors, Banksy has repeatedly affirmed that Mr. Brainwash is the real deal—an independent creative force in his own right

2. He’s Teamed Up with Some of the World’s Biggest Brands

In the past decade, Mr. Brainwash hasn’t just made waves in the street art world—he’s taken his bold, pop-infused style into the realm of global brand collaborations. His creative energy has been tapped by cultural powerhouses like Coachella, Mercedes-Benz, and Marvel Comics, blending street art with mainstream icons.

One of his most memorable partnerships came in 2015, when Coca-Cola enlisted him to help celebrate the brand’s 100th anniversary. Mr. Brainwash was commissioned to design a massive billboard in New York City’s Times Square—one of the most legendary advertising spaces on Earth. The artwork lit up the holidays in a striking palette of red, white, and black, paying tribute not only to Coca-Cola’s legacy, but also to the aesthetic of pop art pioneer Andy Warhol, who famously featured the brand in his own work.

The campaign was more than a collaboration—it was a cultural moment that merged street art, nostalgia, and global branding in true Mr. Brainwash fashion.

3. His Style Blends Pop Art with Street Art Grit

Mr. Brainwash is known for fusing the bold energy of street art with the iconic imagery of pop culture. His work is a vibrant mash-up of familiar faces and cultural symbols—think Charlie Chaplin, Albert Einstein, and Mickey Mouse—reimagined in explosive color and layered textures.

Drawing inspiration from the golden era of pop art and the raw aesthetics of street graffiti, Mr. Brainwash combines spray paint, stencils, collage, and digital techniques to create a signature look that’s both nostalgic and defiantly modern. His pieces often repurpose timeless images in unexpected ways, pushing the boundaries between high art and mass culture.

This unique hybrid style has positioned him as a standout in the contemporary art scene—equal parts homage and rebellion.

 

4. His Charity Game Is So Strong, He’s Hanging with Michelle Obama *and* the Pope

Mr. Brainwash doesn’t just paint walls—he paints hope, inspiration, and occasionally the Vatican. This guy’s charity work is next-level. He’s been out here donating art like Oprah gives away cars, whether it’s supporting the Los Angeles LGBT Centre or crafting moving 9/11 murals that could make a grown man cry into his soy latte.

In 2016, he got the ultimate RSVP: a hangout with Michelle Obama for International Women’s Day in Washington. Not your average Tuesday. The event featured his artwork, murals, and presumably a lot of people trying not to fangirl too hard in front of the former First Lady.

Then in 2019, Brainwash took it up a notch—straight to the Vatican. Yep, he tag-teamed a painting with *Pope Francis* and fellow artist Domingo Zapta. The three of them cooked up a masterpiece celebrating immigrants, which later sold for £500,000 to support the Pope’s art foundation. Who knew the Holy See had such good taste in street art?

5. Mr. Brainwash: The Celebs Can’t Get Enough

Mr. Brainwash isn’t just making waves in the art world—he’s basically the unofficial interior designer of the rich and famous. His collectors include everyone from pirates (*hi, Johnny Depp*) to pop royalty (*what’s up, Madonna*), and even reality TV legends like Kim Kardashian, who liked his work so much she let him crash *Keeping Up with the Kardashians*.

Lindsay Lohan’s got a piece, Michael Jackson was a fan, and we’re pretty sure if aliens came down tomorrow, they’d try to snag a Mr. Brainwash for their spaceship lounge.

With nonstop sales, collabs with mega brands, and a celebrity Rolodex that reads like a VIP list at the Met Gala, Mr. Brainwash is showing no signs of slowing down. The man’s basically the Beyoncé of spray paint.