One of today’s most talked-about street artists will be in the city this month. Mr. Brainwash is the moniker used by Paris-born, Los Angeles-based film-maker and urban artist Thierry Guetta. Mr. Brainwash achieved worldwide recognition with Banksy’s Oscar-nominated film, Exit Through the Gift Shop. His works often emulate the style of Banksy and there has been speculation that Mr Brainwash is, in fact, an elaborate prank by the arch-prankster himself, Banksy, a rumour strongly denied by both Banksy and Guetta.

Guetta became a street artist after a stint as an amateur videographer, filming street artists through the 2000s. Inspired by his subjects, he eventually hit the streets himself armed with a spray can. In 2008, Mr. Brainwash made his art show debut with Life is Beautiful, held at the CBS Studios on Sunset Boulevard in LA. Originally scheduled to open for only two weeks, the show was extended for three months, attracting more than 50,000 visitors. He made his New York debut in February 2010, with the unveiling of ICONS, a 15,000 square-foot exhibition in the heart of Manhattan’s Meatpacking District.

He is also well known for his collaborative work with other artists and creative minds, such as Madonna, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sade, Dolce & Gabbana and many more.

This exhibition, his first ever in Spain, brings together some of his most representative work, including small and large format works on canvas and paper. There will also be a series of small format works created especially for this show and based on Copito de Nieve (Barcelona zoo’s albino gorilla who died in 2003), and a silk screen print that represents FC Barcelona’s best players, from the thirties till the present day.