Whose the Genius Behind the Marilyn Graffiti?

Marilyn Monroe is everywhere. Well, at least her iconic ‘do is. I spotted Spock wearing it — and looking rather debonair — in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District. (That’s my husband there in the striped socks; he’s not part of the graffiti.)

The black-and-white, paste-up style is the craftiness of L.A. graffiti artist Mr. Brainwash, a.k.a. MBW. He’s Marilynized others, too. Madonna and Angelina also get graffiti makeovers in New York. Here’s a cool Flickr collection of more pop-culture inspired street art by Mr. Brainwash. And the L.A. gallery that represents him. [Photo below by Timothy Schenck.]

These made me wonder if Michael Jackson’s image will have such staying power 50 years from now …

He is the tragic icon of our time. Interestingly, MBW has already given his image a Warhol treatment in this sold-out print. [Via RentedSpaces.com]

It reminds me of British street artist Banksy’s Warhol-style Kate Moss that last year sold at auction for $191,000. I think I love this photo by AP photographer Lewis Whyld more than the original print.

I think MBW’s work is compelling and the art world does, too. His gallery, Guy Hepner Contemporary, also represents Warhol, Lichtenstein, Damien Hirst, Helmut Newton, Banksy and others.