Thierry Noir, one of the true pioneers of street art in Europe, is currently showing his works with Howard Griffin Gallery at their new location in Los Angeles. This show presents a retrospective of the life and work of the French artist that created miles of illegal murals along the infamous Berlin wall in the 80s, sometimes literally risking his life for the sake of art.
The exhibition includes new works created especially for this show, shown alongside rarely seen photographs, interviews and films, documenting his legendary murals. By painting his signature portraits, and simple, bright color characters and symbols, the artist ridiculed the deadly symbol of cold war. He started painting in 1984, and continued doing so for the next five years until its fall, never aiming to embellish the hated structure, but to demystify it. Noir’s style strongly relies on line work and simple forms, which was a result of painting quickly in a hazardous environment. His vivid murals and iconic style are a “personal response to the oppressive environment and the timeless nostalgia for the 80s Berlin.”
Photo credit: Marcus Peel.
Discuss Thierry Noir here.
