Mr. Brainwash, Work Well Together, 2022

Mr. Brainwash’s Work Well Together, 2022 centers the image of two children, one with their arm wrapped around the other. Both of them have their backs turned away from the viewer as they sit on a sagging bench, facing the lively background. The background resembles a wall covered in graffiti, with inspiring phrases like “Follow Your Dreams” and “BEAUTIFUL” standing out. The background is a hodgepodge of colors, ranging from dandelion yellow to lime green to cherry red. It appears as though the children are gazing upon this wall and enjoying the sight of it, while a dog at their feet holds a paintbrush in its mouth. The dog, who is facing the viewer, is standing next to a can of grey paint, as if to suggest that the dog played a role in creating the amazing visual array. The juxtaposition of wholesome imagery—two children getting along and a cute dog—against a traditionally edgy backdrop of street art creates an interesting dissonance for the viewer. This is furthered by the difference in techniques in portraying them, particularly in the color choices with the children rendered in black and white. This unique approach to combining moods, in addition to his tendency to appropriate and combine motifs from other famous artists (such as Keith Haring and Basquiat, in this image specifically) is what makes works by Mr. Brainwash distinctive and work together to make a compelling viewing experience.