Back in the 1980s, artists, musicians, and free thinkers flocked to West Berlin despite the tensions of the time. Street art legend Thierry Noir was one of the many who packed a bag for the city in 1982, but he was the first artist to take a paintbrush to the infamous Berlin Wall. He began painting the Wall spontaneously one day and continued to do so for five years. Though there may be nothing apparently hostile about his bright, playful, now iconic imagery, Noir's revolutionary act of painting the Wall was one of condemnation and defiance. Ultimately, Noir wanted to see the Wall crumble. Fast forward 25 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the artist will finally be displaying his works in a gallery solo show for the first time ever.
On April 4, Howard Griffin Gallery will open a retrospective of the life and work of the legendary French artist, on view until May 5. Noir's original works will be displayed on a symbolic concrete wall bisecting the gallery space. Alongside Noir's more recent works will be rarely seen photographs, interviews, and films. Click through to see some of Noir's recent and old works that will be on display at the show.
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