“Mr. Brainwash (“MBW”) is a pseudonym for Thierry Guetta. According to the Banksy directed film Exit Through the Gift Shop, Guetta is a French citizen who now lives in Los Angeles, having been a proprietor of a clothing store and videographer who evolved into a street artist and gallery artist, influenced by the street artists he documented through video over the years. According to the film, Guetta was first introduced to street art by his cousin, the French street artist, Invader.

The artwork attributed to Guetta strongly emulates the styles and artistic concepts of well-known street artists including Banksy and Shepard Fairey. Like Banksy, Guetta employs famous artistic and historic images, many of which are copyrighted, and amends the originals in slight or significant ways. Unlike Banksy, who is shown in the film creating his own work, Guetta states in the film that his work largely consists of “scanning and photoshopping”, acts which are carried out by hired assistants. Guetta further admits that most of the actual artistic process is carried out by hired graphic designers to whom he describes his ideas”. – Wikipedia

Artist Mr. Brainwash stands with his paintings “The Queen” (R) and “Kate Moss” at the Opera Gallery on October 3, 2011 in London, England. Works by pop artist and film maker Thierry Guetta, known as Mr. Brainwash, are on display at the gallery from October 6th to 31st, 2011. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

Mr. Brainwash stands in front of his painting “Smile” at the Opera Gallery on October 3, 2011 in London, England. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

Works by artist Mr. Brainwash are readied for exhibiting at the Opera Gallery on October 3, 2011 in London, England. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

Artist Mr. Brainwash helps to hang his painting 'Chocolate Vandal' at the Opera Gallery on October 3, 2011 in London, England. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)