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

Brice MardenDistant Muses, 2000

$6,000

H 23.5 in W 19.13 in

Distant Muses

By Brice Marden

Located in New York, NY

Brice Marden Distant Muses 2000 Screenprint 23 1/2 x 19 1/8 inches; 60 x 49 cm Edition of 300 Signed, dated, and numbered in graphite (lower recto) Frame available upon request Available from Matthew Marks...

Category

Early 2000s Contemporary Blek Le Rat Art

Materials

Screen

KAWSUntitled (Running Snoopy), Cutout Screen Print on Paper, Signed, Ed. 14/25, 2020, 2020

$9,000

H 14.25 in W 16 in D 1 in

Untitled (Running Snoopy), Cutout Screen Print on Paper, Signed, Ed. 14/25, 2020

By KAWS

Located in Aventura, FL

Screen print cutout on Saunders Waterford 425gm HP Hi-White paper. Hand signed, dated and numbered by the artist. Artwork size 9 x 10 inches. Custom framed as pictured. Frame size...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Street Art Blek Le Rat Art

Materials

Paper, Screen

KAWSUntitled (Snoopy), Cutout Screen Print on Paper, Signed, 2020, Edition 19/25, 2020

$9,000

H 15.75 in W 13.25 in D 1 in

Untitled (Snoopy), Cutout Screen Print on Paper, Signed, 2020, Edition 19/25

By KAWS

Located in Aventura, FL

Screen print cutout on Saunders Waterford 425gm HP Hi-White paper. Hand signed, dated and numbered by the artist. Artwork size 10.5 x 8 inches. Custom framed as pictured. Frame si...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Street Art Blek Le Rat Art

Materials

Paper, Screen

Ed Baynard"The Italian Poppies" by Ed Baynard (Flowers, White, Abstract, Still life), 1996

$1,200

H 27 in W 40 in

"The Italian Poppies" by Ed Baynard (Flowers, White, Abstract, Still life)

By Ed Baynard

Located in New York, NY

This is a 20 color screen print on Sommerset paper. The edition was printed at Brand X Editions in 1997. Ed Baynard’s paintings and graphic prints blend the contemporary and the cla...

Category

1990s Contemporary Blek Le Rat Art

Materials

Screen

Shepard FaireyCold Chillin (Blue) (Hip Hop Tribute, Turntable Motif, Faux LP Cover), 2008

$880Sale Price|39% Off

H 24 in W 18 in

Cold Chillin (Blue) (Hip Hop Tribute, Turntable Motif, Faux LP Cover)

By Shepard Fairey

Located in Kansas City, MO

Shepard Fairey Cold Chillin (Blue) Screen print on thick cream Speckletone paper Year: 2008 Size: 24 x 18 inches (60.96 x 45.72 cm) Edition: 350 Signed by Shepard Fairey, dated and n...

Category

2010s Street Art 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

Shepard FaireyPeter Tosh: Legalize It (The Wailers, Reggae Pioneer, Jamaica, Icon, ~33% OFF), 2024

$398Sale Price|23% Off

H 24 in W 18 in

Peter Tosh: Legalize It (The Wailers, Reggae Pioneer, Jamaica, Icon, ~33% OFF)

By Shepard Fairey

Located in Kansas City, MO

Shepard Fairey Peter Tosh: Legalize It Screen print on thick cream Speckletone paper Year: 2024 Size: 24 x 18 inches (60.96 x 45.72 cm) Edition: 500 Signed by Shepard Fairey, dated a...

Category

2010s Street Art Blek Le Rat Art

Materials

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

Donald SultanSeven Blues, Jan 24, 2024, 2024

$10,000

H 58 in W 58 in

Seven Blues, Jan 24, 2024

By Donald Sultan

Located in Calabasas, CA

Artist: Donald Sultan Title: Seven Blues, Jan 24, 2024 Year: 2024 Medium: Silkscreen in colors with enamel inks and tart like texture on 4-ply Museum Board Sheet: 58 x 58 in (147 × ...

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

Jonas WoodYellow Flower, 2022

$21,795

H 29.93 in W 23.63 in

Yellow Flower

By Jonas Wood

Located in London, GB

Edition of 100. 27 colour screenprint on 410gsm Somerset tub sized Satin Enhanced White paper. Signed, dated and numbered by the artist.

Category

2010s Contemporary Blek Le Rat Art

Materials

Screen

Donald SultanBlues and Black August 20, 2020, 2020

$15,000

H 44 in W 84 in

Blues and Black August 20, 2020

By Donald Sultan

Located in Calabasas, CA

Artist: Donald Sultan Title: Blues and Black August 20, 2020 Year: 2020 Medium: Silkscreen with enamel inks, flocking, and tarlike texture on Rising 4-ply Museum Board Sheet: 44 x 8...

Category

2010s 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.