by Richard Buckley, Editor, Business Eye

Celebrating record sales, one of Belfast’s most established art dealers has reached the £1m mark in sales for the second year running with the global phenomenon that is Mr Brainwash.   Rising to fame after his work with Banksy, the French born film maker and street pop artist has seen sales skyrocket in Ireland since the start of the pandemic with his hyper stimulating creations encouraging people to see that ‘Life is Beautiful’.


 

Charles Gilmore, sole supplier of Mr Brainwash art here in Northern Ireland, believes that this is as a direct result of the pandemic and represents a need for people to feel free and to fill their lives with fun again.

 

“”I have been representing Mr Brainwash for a number of years now, and his work has always been popular with my clients, but sales and interest in his punchy and ironic art have rocketed since last year,”

 

Charles goes on,

 

“He reflects the chaotic and unpredictable nature of the world at the moment, there is also a desire to return to our childhoods, a time of less responsibility and stress, so having some of the most iconic cartoon characters featured in a fun and hectic manner allows us to remember the lighter side of life. The surge in popularity of Mr Brainwash’s work is certainly an indicator of the change in what people want from their art.

 

“More traditional subjects and forms are being eclipsed in popularity by this playful, chaotic, graffiti-art style made popular by artists like Damien Hirst and Banksy.

 

“While of course, there will always be a place for landscapes, still life and figurative paintings by accomplished artists like Paul Henry, Jack B. Yeats and Sir John Lavery, I can see buyers’ tastes are changing.

 

“We are a nation of art lovers and our tastes have changed dramatically in the almost 30 years I have been in business, now Mr Brainwash hangs on our walls alongside colourful and fun works from artists such as Andy Warhol, Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat.”

 

In the words of Mr Brainwash himself;

 

“Art should not be serious, it should be positive, embrace freedom and be full of love. Because ‘Life is Beautiful’! This is what people want most now in 2021.”

 

Charles Gilmore will be hosting a special Mr Brainwash Takeover which will see the gallery showcase the largest collection of Mr Brainwash art ever before seen on the island of Ireland. The drop in exhibition is on now and runs until the 20th December.

 

For more information please visit www.charlesgilmore.com or call 028 9031 1666

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Charles Gilmore with Gallery Manager, Rose Murray

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