Bel-Air Fine Art

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From the underground scene to the most prestigious contemporary

art events, Street Art has imposed its incisive view of the world.

Street art, a contemporary artistic movement that emerged at the end of the 20th century, takes place in public spaces, particularly in streets and on walls, sometimes discreetly but often with striking works. This multifaceted, often unauthorised movement is characterised by its subversive and provocative nature, offering a voice to those who want to break with conventional views or express ideas that are often ignored. The street thus becomes a vast canvas, a highly visible platform for expression. Cities such as Berlin, Melbourne and Sao Paulo are emblematic of this creative vitality, where the artistic value of these works, although sometimes illegal, is increasingly recognised and sought after.

The origins of Street Art are not recent. Since the time of cavemen, through the frescoes of Antiquity or hieroglyphics, humanity has always felt the need to write its history on walls. This need changed in the twentieth century with the appearance of murals after the Mexican revolution of 1910 and visual propaganda in Russia, marking the start of an era in which art became a vehicle for political and social protest. However, it was in the United States in the 1960s that modern Street Art, as we know it today, really came into being with ‘Graffiti writing’, initiated by Cornbread and Cool Earl in Philadelphia. This movement rapidly gained momentum in New York in the 1970s, giving rise to iconic figures such as Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Taki 183, who went on to revolutionise urban art.

BANKSY, La Petite Fille Au Ballon (London)

In France, the effervescence began in the 1980s with pioneers such as Blek le Rat and Jérôme Mesnager, before international artists such as Banksy in the UK and Invader in France finally established Street Art on the world stage. This development culminated in the 2000s, when street art, long considered an illegal act of transgression, finally entered the contemporary art and galleries circuit, with major events such as exhibitions at the Grand Palais and the Fondation Cartier. Urban art is now recognised as a movement in its own right, engaging, creative and essential.

Street art encompasses a wide range of different techniques, testifying to the diversity of practice of this movement among the artists who have taken it up. From graffiti to stencils, by way of sticker art, street installations and tape art, urban art manifests itself in a variety of ways, expressing as many messages as there are artists.

Discover Bel-Air Fine Art's selection of works that are both visually striking

and technically well crafted, offering all the emotional power of Street Art.

MR BRAINWASH

"HYBRID GRAFFITI"

Passionate for video making and street art, Mr Brainwash is a complete artist who enjoys seeking extensions in every sense of the word, in his exhibitions and multi-faceted production. In the footsteps of urban art stars such as Banksy, he contributed to expand Pop art’s scope with new media, in the street and on screen. 2008 propels Mr Brainwash to the artistic forefront. His exhibition “Life is beautiful” organized in Los Angeles at CBS premises for only five days is so successful that the artist has to extend it to two months. His subsequent exhibitions were also successful, leading him to collaborate with prestigious artists as well as international stars, such as Madonna and Michael Jackson on their album covers.

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KAÏ

BRONZE SCULPTURE, CEMENT PAINTING & PRINT

Kaï is an American artist known for his use of cement and the iconic character Imaginary Friend. His mellow, heartfelt yet gripping world captivates with its endearing character, who conveys without fail a positive vibe. He studied art in the École des Beaux Arts of Paris and became a street artist at the age of 16. Kaï is widely recognized for his urban art found in his hometown of Los Angeles, across the United States, and abroad. He also creates paintings, sculptures, and limited edition collectibles. In September 2017, Kaï released a limited edition serigraphy titled "Love vs Money," featuring his character Imaginary Friend.

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MIHOUB

ACRYLIC PAINTING & RESIN ON CANVAS

Born in Oran in 1976, Mihoub is an Algerian born French. In 2001, he left for San Francisco, in search of new adventures and inspired by “The Alchemist” by Paolo Coehlo. As he strolled through the streets of the city center, he discovered the many art galleries, the surrealist trend and post-war expressionist abstraction. Mihoub let himself be guided by his instinct; “When I create, I let myself be crossed by the energy that is released, and gradually, I see shapes appear. A composition for me is like a dance, a ballet… ”

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CÉDRIC BOUTEILLER

PHOTOGRAPHY, PAINTING & GRAFFITI ON ALUMINIUM

The three keystones of Cédric Bouteiller are color, material, movement; forgetting all his academic codes and the illustrative gesture, the artist expresses himself through abstractive paintings and graffiti, placing emotions as the heart of the composition. "The abstraction that I convey in my painting reflects my inner-self. With my doubts, my sorrows, my bright side. I like the idea of my unconscious emerging unrestrained to the surface".

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STREET ART: THE FREE ART THAT BREAKS THE RULES

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