Mr. Brainwash, the street art star whose real name is Thierry Guetta, gained international fame through his bold, often controversial, and always visually appealing works that combine pop culture, iconic imagery, and graffiti aesthetics. One of his most famous works is his reinterpretation of the Mona Lisa, a motif that has fascinated artists for centuries. Mr. Brainwash’s Mona Lisa is not a traditional homage to Leonardo da Vinci’s Renaissance masterpiece. Instead, it is a vibrant reinterpretation that reflects the chaotic energy of contemporary culture. In his version, the calm and enigmatic expression of the original Mona Lisa is contrasted with bright, often garish colors, graffiti-style lettering, and a collage-like background full of references to modern life. He integrates elements such as spray paint splatters, pop icons, and slogans, creating a multi-layered composition that both reveres and disrupts the historical image. By using the Mona Lisa, arguably the most famous painting in the world, Mr. Brainwash employs a universal visual language.

At the Mr. Brainwash Art Museum in Beverly Hills, there is an entire wall with various interpretations of the Mona Lisa with art historical references to Van Gogh, Paul Klee, and many other artists.

The work presented here is painted with Maurizio Cattelan’s famous banana. Maurizio Cattelan’s artwork entitled Comedian—a real banana taped to a wall with silver duct tape—is one of the most provocative and talked-about works of contemporary art. Since its premiere at Art Basel Miami Beach in 2019, it has caused a stir worldwide and sparked debates about the value, meaning, and limits of art.

Cattelan, known for his ironic and socially critical works, wanted to use Comedian to question the absurdity of the art market and the often arbitrary attribution of value. He originally experimented with replicas made of bronze and resin, but ultimately decided on a real banana because it best achieved the desired effect. The work consists of a banana, a piece of tape, and a certificate of authenticity with precise instructions for installation.

The simplicity of the work met with mixed reactions. Some saw it as an ingenious critique of the art world, while others considered it a joke or even an insult to serious art. It became particularly controversial when performance artist David Datuna ate the banana during the exhibition and described it as his own artistic action. A similar incident occurred in 2023 at the Leeum Museum of Art in Seoul, when a student ate the banana and stuck the peel back on the wall. Both actions were taken in stride by Cattelan.

Despite – or perhaps because of – the controversy, Comedian fetched high prices at auction. In November 2024, an edition of the work was sold at Sotheby’s in New York for $6.24 million. The buyer was cryptocurrency entrepreneur Justin Sun, who announced that he would eat the banana to honor the idea behind the work. In addition to the banana and tape, the buyer also receives a certificate giving them the right to install the work according to the artist’s instructions.

Comedian has become a symbol for the discussion about the value and definition of art. It raises questions about what art is, who decides what art is, and what influence the market has on the perception of art. Through its simplicity and the provocation associated with it, the work has left a lasting impression and challenged the boundaries of the art world.

Overall, Comedian shows how a simple object—a banana—can spark complex discussions about art, value, and society. It remains a remarkable example of how art can provoke and inspire reflection.

Mr. Brainwash’s Mona Lisa plays with the tension between high art and street art, questioning traditional notions of artistic value, originality, and authorship. This approach is consistent with his roots in street art and his close connection to artists such as Banksy and Shepard Fairey. In fact, his sudden rise to fame was largely triggered by the 2010 documentary film Exit Through the Gift Shop, directed by Banksy, in which Mr. Brainwash plays a central, controversial role. Mr. Brainwash’s Mona Lisa is not only a reinterpretation, but also a commentary. It reflects the commercialization of art, the remix culture of the digital age, and the way iconic images can be endlessly reproduced and transformed. In this way, his Mona Lisa becomes more than just a parody or homage—it becomes a symbol of how art is consumed and redefined in the 21st century. Critics are divided on Mr. Brainwash’s work. Some see it as a clever, postmodern critique of celebrity and the elitism of the art world, while others dismiss it as derivative or overly commercial. Regardless of the debate, his Mona Lisa remains an impressive example of how timeless images can be revisited and placed in a new context in the ever-evolving world of contemporary art.

In the winter of 2025/2026, as every year, unique pieces by Mr. Brainwash will be on display at the exhibition in Kitzbühel at FRANK FLUEGEL GALERIE.