Blek Le Rat Art

French, b. 1951

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. 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. Inspired by what he saw in New York, Blek began painting the streets of Paris in 1981, choosing a different technique – the stencil – as more appropriate for the French architecture. Blek’s first stencils were black rats, seen to be running along the walls throughout the centre of Paris. The rat, also an anagram for ‘art’, is in Blek’s mind “the only animal to survive the apocalypse“. In 1983 Blek began to paint life-size stencils, which alongside his rats, have become his trademark and have influenced generations of street artists around the world. Blek considers his images as gifts to the cities of the world, raising awareness of social issues. His heroes are solitary individuals crossing through the urban space – women, children, the elderly and other contemporary figures in an urban city. Dedicated to the idea of bringing art to the people, Blek often quotes the old masters like Caravaggio, Michelangelo, Guido Reni and Leonardo da Vinci. “I want the characters of the paintings to walk out of the museums to give them back to the people of the city” he says. In the mid 2000s, Blek’s work evolved to become more overtly political. Following the kidnapping of French journalist Florence Aubenas in Iraq, Blek pasted hundreds of prints of her image around Paris. Her portrait appeared everywhere, from her work place at Libération, next to cafés and offices of major newspapers. This activation aimed to attract the attention of the media and politicians to raise awareness of her situation. This body of work was a defining moment for Blek, who says, “I became aware of my power and responsibilty as an artist working in the public space“. That same year, Blek began a series portraying beggars on the street, aiming to shed light on the issue of homelessness. Blek paints the same portrait of a young beggar around the world, from Europe, to the United States to Australia, to challenge authorities, because “sometimes images have a bigger impact than reality“.

Artist: Blek Le Rat

Blek Le RatBlek Le Rat The Man Who Walks Through Walls (Special Edition Print Box Set), 2008

$960Sale Price|20% Off

Blek Le Rat The Man Who Walks Through Walls (Special Edition Print Box Set)

By Blek Le Rat

Located in Englishtown, NJ

Wonderful Special Edition of Blek Le Rat The Man Who Walks Through Walls. Comes complete with Screenprint, custom box and Blek Le Rat’s book, Getting Through The Walls. Self portrait...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Blek Le Rat Art

Materials

Screen

Blek Le RatClassik Box, 2016

$2,880Sale Price|20% Off

Classik Box

By Blek Le Rat

Located in Dallas, TX

Classikbox – 2016 by Blek the rat Art casing – Ed.100 Containing 3 serigraphs Ed.100 The man who walks through walls / Madonna and Child / Beggar Screen-p...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Street Art Blek Le Rat Art

Materials

Plexiglass, Screen

Gary Bukovnik"Dahlias" by Gary Bukovnik (Flowers, Still life, Watercolor, Paint, Print), 2001

$1,400

H 40 in W 27 in

"Dahlias" by Gary Bukovnik (Flowers, Still life, Watercolor, Paint, Print)

By Gary Bukovnik

Located in New York, NY

This image features a colorful arrangement of pink, red and purple flowers by American artist, Gary Bukovnik. Bukovnik is an internationally acclaimed painter and printmaker who prim...

Category

Early 2000s Contemporary Blek Le Rat Art

Materials

Screen

Shepard FaireyThe Future is Unwritten Collage Shepard Fairey Screen Print Obey Giant, 2021

$1,000

H 24 in W 18 in

The Future is Unwritten Collage Shepard Fairey Screen Print Obey Giant

By Shepard Fairey

Located in Draper, UT

Manufacturer: Obey Giant Edition Details: Year: 2021 Run: 151 out of 300 Technique: Screen Print Paper: 80lb Cream French Speckletone Size: 18 X 24 Markings: Signed & Numbered Publis...

Category

2010s Street Art Blek Le Rat Art

Materials

Screen

Damien HirstInvadHirst, 2025

$7,500

H 34 in W 43 in D 1 in

InvadHirst

By Damien Hirst

Located in Calabasas, CA

Artist: Damien Hirst X Invader Title: Invadhirst Year: 2025 Medium: 21-colour silkscreen print on Somerset Satin White 410 gsm cotton paper Edition: 1194; hand-signed by the artists ...

Category

2010s Contemporary Blek Le Rat Art

Materials

Screen

InvaderInvadHirst, 2025

$7,500

H 34 in W 43 in D 1 in

InvadHirst

By Invader

Located in Calabasas, CA

Artist: Invader X Damien Hirst Title: Invadhirst Year: 2025 Medium: 21-colour silkscreen print on Somerset Satin White 410 gsm cotton paper Edition: 1194; hand-signed by the artists ...

Category

2010s Contemporary Blek Le Rat Art

Materials

Screen

Jules OlitskiLuminous Dawn Screen Print, Contemporary, Signed, 1990s, 108 Edition, 1997

$2,700

H 25 in W 35 in

Luminous Dawn Screen Print, Contemporary, Signed, 1990s, 108 Edition

By Jules Olitski

Located in New York, NY

This screen print, printed on Arches Cover White paper, is hand signed and numbered in graphite. The edition size is 108 plus 18 Artist Proofs. This print comes directly from the publisher, Lincoln Center Editions...

Category

1990s Contemporary Blek Le Rat Art

Materials

Screen

Shepard FaireyShepard Fairey Print Snoop Dogg D-O Double G Obey Giant Rapper Silkscreen Street, 2020

$1,000

H 24 in W 18 in

Shepard Fairey Print Snoop Dogg D-O Double G Obey Giant Rapper Silkscreen Street

By Shepard Fairey

Located in Draper, UT

YEAR: 2020 Classification: Limited edition Medium/Materials: Silkscreen on Fine Art paper with Silver Metallics Inks Silkscreen / Graffiti and Street Art / Pop and Contemporary Pop / Cultural Commentary Dimesions: 24 × 18 in 61 × 45.7 cm Edition: Edition 360/550 "It is great when music, art, and politics can be combined! I was honored to create a portrait of Snoop Dogg...

Category

2010s Street Art Blek Le Rat Art

Materials

Screen

William Kentridge"The Nose" by William Kentridge (Photograph, Black and White, Newspaper, Print), 2010

$3,600Sale Price|20% Off

H 16 in W 23 in

"The Nose" by William Kentridge (Photograph, Black and White, Newspaper, Print)

By William Kentridge

Located in New York, NY

This is a monochromatic photogravure, aquatint and drypoint on Hahnemuhle Copperplate warm white paper. Created in 2010, it is signed in pencil lower right and numbered from the edit...

Category

2010s Contemporary Blek Le Rat Art

Materials

Screen, Photogravure

Josef AlbersJosef Albers Formulation: Articulation IX Screen Print, 1972, Unframed, 1972

$1,200Sale Price|20% Off

H 15 in W 40 in

Josef Albers Formulation: Articulation IX Screen Print, 1972, Unframed

By Josef Albers

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Paper Size: 15 x 40 inches ( 38.1 x 101.6 cm ) Image Size: 8.25 x 17 inches ( 20.955 x 43.18 cm ) Framed: No Condition: A-: Near Mint, very light signs of handling Additional Detail...

Category

1970s Contemporary Blek Le Rat Art

Materials

Screen

John BaldessariAdam Wasn't Into It, 2017

$7,000

H 32.5 in W 28 in

Adam Wasn't Into It

By John Baldessari

Located in Calabasas, CA

Artist: Johns Baldessari Title: Adam Wasn't Into It Year: 2017 Medium: Screenprint on Arches 88 paper Edition: 50; signed, dated and numbered in pencil Sheet: 32 1/2 x 28 inches (82....

Category

2010s Contemporary Blek Le Rat Art

Materials

Screen

Shepard FaireyVote! Stop Fascism 20 Shepard Fairey / Ernesto Yerena Fine Art Urban Art Street, 2020

$650

H 24 in W 18 in

Vote! Stop Fascism 20 Shepard Fairey / Ernesto Yerena Fine Art Urban Art Street

By Shepard Fairey

Located in Draper, UT

Edition Details Year: 2020 Class: Art Print Status: Official Run: 67/450 Technique: Screen Print Size: 18 X 24 Markings: Signed & Numbered

Category

2010s Street Art Blek Le Rat Art

Materials

Screen

Jeremie Faivre French Contemporary Art by Jeremie Faivre - Momentum, 2023

$2,100

H 17.72 in W 27.56 in D 0.79 in

French Contemporary Art by Jeremie Faivre - Momentum

Located in Paris, IDF

Screen Print on canvas Jeremie Faivre is a French artist born in 1977 who lives and works in Paris, France. He is graduated from Massachussetts College of Art & Design in Bosto...

Category

2010s Contemporary Blek Le Rat Art

Materials

Canvas, Screen

Donald SultanDonald Sultan, from the Wallflowers Series Signed Limited Edition Print, 2008

$3,200

H 24.25 in W 21.63 in D 0.02 in

Donald Sultan, from the Wallflowers Series Signed Limited Edition Print

By Donald Sultan

Located in San Rafael, CA

Donald K. Sultan (American, born 1951) Untitled, from Wallflowers, 2008 Screenprint in colors on wove paper Signed with artist's initials, numbered, dated, and titled in pencil along...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Blek Le Rat Art

Materials

Screen

Blek Le Rat art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Blek Le Rat art available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Blek Le Rat in acrylic paint, paint, synthetic resin paint and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 21st century and contemporary and is mostly associated with the street art style. Not every interior allows for large Blek Le Rat art, so small editions measuring 12 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of J.M. Robert, Alec Monopoly, and Fabien Rocca. Blek Le Rat art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,200 and tops out at $63,500, while the average work can sell for $47,500.