'Life is Beautiful: Queen Elizabeth II' by Mr. Brainwash, 2012
Obtained in person at Mr. Brainwash's "Life is Beautiful: London" show.
The Old Sorting Office, New Oxford Street, London, 2012.
Based on the Queen's official 1953 Coronation portrait by photographer Dorothy Wilding.
37.7 x 19.7 Inches
95.8 x 50 Centimeters
Offset lithograph on satin poster paper.
Open edition (Sold Out).
Mr. Brainwash's printed signature in black bottom right.
*Note: Poster shows kinks and wrinkles at corners/edges. Overall good condition - see photos. Price discounted accordingly.
ABOUT THE ART
In the summer of 2012, as the world’s eyes turned to London for the Olympic Games, Mr. Brainwash made his long-awaited UK debut by staging a colossal takeover of the Old Sorting Office. This 160,000-square-foot disused postal hub in the West End was transformed into a sprawling "art playground" that celebrated British heritage through a subversive, pop-fueled lens. The exhibition was headlined by a staggering six-story tall mural of Queen Elizabeth II on the building's exterior, reimagining the monarch as a street-art icon—regal yet rebellious, holding a Union Jack spray can in a bold nod to the underground culture that birthed the artist’s career.
The show was a high-energy "Pop-aganda" spectacle, featuring everything from a 20-foot tall gorilla made of old tires to a giant bucket of baked beans and a life-sized London taxi in a toy Matchbox blister pack. Opening with a massive party featuring a performance by DJ David Guetta, the event attracted record-breaking crowds, with thousands of visitors lining up for blocks to experience the sensory overload. This 2012 London show remains one of Mr. Brainwash's most culturally significant moments, as he successfully bridged the gap between traditional British iconography and the vibrant, chaotic energy of modern street art.