![]() ![]() He has also been noted for his series of images representing the homeless, begun in 2005, which depict them standing, sitting or laying on sidewalks, in attempts to bring attention to what he views as a global problem. Many of his pieces are pictorials of solitary individuals in opposition to larger, oppressive groups. He has had a great influence on today's graffiti art and "urban art" movements, the main motivation of his work being social consciousness and the desire to bring art to the people. ![]() From that point on, he has worked mainly with pre-stenciled posters, citing the speedier application of the medium to walls, as well as lessened punishment should he be caught in the act. Blek is credited with being the inventor of the life-sized stencil, as well as the first to transform stencil from basic lettering into pictoral art.īlek's identity was revealed to French authorities in 1991 when he was arrested while stenciling a replica of Caravaggio's Madonna and Child, with the connection to Blek and his artwork being made by police. During a trip to the United States in 1971, Blek was introduced to the ‘wild style’ graffiti prevalent in New York City, which left a lasting impression on him. He also stated the influence of New York's Richard Hambilton, who painted large-scale human figures in the 1980s. Blek le Rat (FR) photos and movies 2002-2020 Happy Feet Design, San Francisco, CA, USA This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License. blek le rat Born in 1951, Xavier Prou (better known as Blek Le Rat), was one of the first graffiti artists in Paris, and is the founder of the international stencil art movement. Initially influenced by the early graffiti art of New York City after a visit in 1971, he chose a style which he felt better suited Paris, due to the differing architecture of the two cities. Blek is credited with being the inventor of the life-sized stencil and the first to transform stencils from basic lettering into pictorial art. Blek initially painted stencils of rats on the walls and described the rat as ‘the only free animal in the city’. His name originates from a childhood cartoon "Blek le Roc", using "rat" as an anagram for "art". Blek le Rat began creating works from 1981, using the Paris streets as his canvas of choice. He began his artwork in 1981, painting stencils of rats on the street walls of Paris, describing the rat as "the only free animal in the city", and one which "spreads the plague everywhere, just like street art". Blek le Rat, born Xavier Prou in Boulogne-Billancourt, Paris in 1951, was one of the first graffiti artists in Paris, and the originator of stencil graffiti art. ![]()
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