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 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

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

Shepard Fairey"Universal Dignity" Shepard Fairey Screenprint Letterpress Contemporary Street, 2022

$1,450

H 19.5 in W 15 in

"Universal Dignity" Shepard Fairey Screenprint Letterpress Contemporary Street

By Shepard Fairey

Located in Draper, UT

Hand-deckled edges. "Aims to promote peace, equality, and humanity. I’d like to see a fundamental assumption that ALL people deserve respect and human dignity. This applies to the u...

Category

2010s Street Art 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

Estevan OriolLA Fingers Gold Diamond Dust Edition Estevan Oriol Print Los Angeles BTS Street, 2019

$3,500

H 24 in W 18 in

LA Fingers Gold Diamond Dust Edition Estevan Oriol Print Los Angeles BTS Street

By Estevan Oriol

Located in Draper, UT

Medium Print Condition Print is in Pristine Condition and has been stored flat since purchase in 2019. Four sharp corners and in Mint Condition. Signature Hand-signed by artist, Hand signed and numbered in Pencil by the Artist, Estevan Oriol...

Category

2010s Street Art Blek Le Rat Art

Materials

Gold

Shepard FaireyShepard Fairey Flavor Flav Screen Pint On Sustainable Birchwood Signed by Flav, 2017

$1,750

H 15 in W 12 in D 1 in

Shepard Fairey Flavor Flav Screen Pint On Sustainable Birchwood Signed by Flav

By Shepard Fairey

Located in Draper, UT

LA Art Show exclusive fine art wood print on 1/2" sustainable Birch wood, vintage matte finish honoring 2017 award recipients Mel Ramos, Britt Salvesen & Ben Goretsky. Featuring ar...

Category

2010s Street Art Blek Le Rat Art

Materials

Screen

Shepard FaireyBob Marley X Shepard Fairey Print To Catch A Fire Dennis Morris Signed Music, 2020

$1,250

H 24 in W 18 in

Bob Marley X Shepard Fairey Print To Catch A Fire Dennis Morris Signed Music

By Shepard Fairey

Located in Draper, UT

"Marley was sometimes fiery, sometimes joyful, sometimes contemplative, but always visionary and poetic. I love this intimate, thoughtful moment Dennis captured and I’m honored to tr...

Category

2010s Street Art Blek Le Rat Art

Materials

Screen

Shepard FaireyShepard Fairey Rose Soldier Letterpress Edition 2017 Obey Giant Mint, 2017

$1,000

H 13 in W 10 in

Shepard Fairey Rose Soldier Letterpress Edition 2017 Obey Giant Mint

By Shepard Fairey

Located in Draper, UT

Edition Details Year: 2017 Class: Art Print Status: Official Released: 10/10/17 Run: 319/450 Technique: Letterpress Paper: Cream cotton paper Size: 10 X 13 Markings: Signed & Numbere...

Category

2010s Street Art Blek Le Rat Art

Materials

Screen

Shepard FaireyShepard Fairey Bob Marley X Shepard Fairey Print To Catch A Fire Dennis Morris, 2020

$1,250

H 24 in W 18 in

Shepard Fairey Bob Marley X Shepard Fairey Print To Catch A Fire Dennis Morris

By Shepard Fairey

Located in Draper, UT

Edition Details: Year: 2020 Class: Art Print Status: Official Run: 195/200 Technique: Screen Print Paper: Cream Speckletone Size: 18 X 24 Markings: Signed & Numbered Co-autographed b...

Category

2010s Street Art Blek Le Rat Art

Materials

Screen

Shepard FaireyShepard Fairey Long Live The People Collaboration with Ed Nachtrieb Diptych Set, 2020

$1,500

H 24 in W 18 in

Shepard Fairey Long Live The People Collaboration with Ed Nachtrieb Diptych Set

By Shepard Fairey

Located in Draper, UT

IMAGE RIGHTS N/A PROVENANCE We are the original owners of these works and were acquired directly from the artitst. ADDITIONAL INFO "I’ve long believed that protests in the streets ar...

Category

2010s Street Art Blek Le Rat Art

Materials

Screen

Shepard FaireyBob Marley X Shepard Fairey Print To Catch A Fire Dennis Morris Signed Music, 2020

$1,250

H 24 in W 18 in

Bob Marley X Shepard Fairey Print To Catch A Fire Dennis Morris Signed Music

By Shepard Fairey

Located in Draper, UT

"Marley was sometimes fiery, sometimes joyful, sometimes contemplative, but always visionary and poetic. I love this intimate, thoughtful moment Dennis captured and I’m honored to tr...

Category

2010s Street Art Blek Le Rat Art

Materials

Screen

Shepard FaireyBurn Baby Burn Shepard Fairey Letter Press Print Obey Publishing Chop Urban Art

$1,500

H 13 in W 10 in

Burn Baby Burn Shepard Fairey Letter Press Print Obey Publishing Chop Urban Art

By Shepard Fairey

Located in Draper, UT

Burn Baby Burn, inspired by the aesthetics of “live fast – die young” rock ’n’ roll, is a critique of some harmful habits we are addicted to. Not just the harmful effects of burning ...

Category

2010s Street Art Blek Le Rat Art

Materials

Screen

HUSHHush - Le Buste II - Gold Edition - Urban Graffiti Street Art, 2020

$1,950

H 21.5 in W 21.5 in

Hush - Le Buste II - Gold Edition - Urban Graffiti Street Art

By HUSH

Located in Asheville, NC

Hush - Le Buste II - Gold Edition - Urban Graffiti Street Art Artists: HUSH Edition Details: Year: 2021 Class: Art Print Status: Official Released: 06...

Category

2010s Street Art Blek Le Rat Art

Materials

Silver, Gold, Gold Leaf

Previously Available Items

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

Sold

H 10.2 in W 13.4 in

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 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.