Gauntlet Gallery — Mr Brainwash Print & Edition Index
Incognito (First Edition)
Work Summary & Collector Notes
A 2019 President's Day release, Incognito depicts American founding fathers wearing novelty nose-and-glasses disguises, each portrait framed with a lighthearted comedic twist. Issued as a giclee print in an edition of 100 at 22 x 17.5 inches, it applies MBW's irreverent humor to solemn historical iconography.
Collector notes: Edition of 100 according to the saved release record. The saved release record describes: signed; numbered; artist thumbprint on the reverse. Verify each feature on the physical copy.
Why It Matters
The piece turns reverence into play, defacing the dignified portraiture of national founders with a dime-store disguise gag. That tension between civic solemnity and gift-shop absurdity is central to Mr. Brainwash's appeal, using humor to puncture the mythology around venerated figures.
Collector Perspective
As a giclee in an edition of 100, this is one of the more accessible releases in the group, both in medium and edition size. The President's Day tie-in and Americana subject give it a specific thematic hook that appeals to collectors drawn to political or patriotic pop imagery rather than the music or superhero series.
Historical Context
American founding fathers have been endlessly reproduced on currency, monuments, and civic art. By pairing them with a comedic disguise, Mr. Brainwash follows pop art's long habit of skewering national symbols, echoing the satirical edge that artists have brought to political portraiture for decades.
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned screenprint
- Release date
- 2019-02-18
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release date from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.
- Series
- Other Editioned Works
- Medium and materials
- Screen Print; catalog dimensions 22 x 17.5 inches; seven-color screenprint.
- Edition details
- Edition of 100 according to the saved release record.
- Signature and marks
- The saved release record describes: signed; numbered; artist thumbprint on the reverse. Verify each feature on the physical copy.
Documented History and Meaning
History note: The studio dates Mr Brainwash's first Life Is Beautiful solo exhibition to 18 June 2008; this page treats that as career context, not proof that the present edition appeared in that exhibition.
Meaning / interpretation: The studio describes the practice as combining street-art energy, pop-culture imagery and positive messaging. Subject-specific intent or endorsement is not assumed unless a release or collaboration source states it. This interpretive note follows the cited artist or publisher context.
Release context: The saved catalog lists 2019-02-18 and attributes the edition to Mr Brainwash (Self Released). The saved release copy presents it as part of a President's Day group.
Authentication, Presentation and Provenance
- Original presentation
- Original packaging or presentation was not documented in the release sources reviewed.
- Authentication note
- No certificate is stated in the saved release description. For an individual copy, compare the support, dimensions, edition number, signature, thumbprint and any studio or gallery paperwork. The studio says it cannot guarantee works bought from external vendors.
- Provenance note
- Edition origin is attributed in the legacy record to Mr Brainwash (Self Released). That does not establish the ownership history of an individual copy: retain the original invoice, reseller or gallery paperwork, labels, correspondence and condition photographs.
Related Artists and Exhibitions
- Life Is Beautiful — first solo exhibition — CBS Columbia Square, Hollywood · 18 June 2008 · Artist-career context; the source does not establish that this later edition was exhibited
Videos
- Official video archive — ARTE and Los Angeles Times features — Mr Brainwash studio · Artist process and exhibition context; not release-specific
Sources and Verification
Verification status: Secondary catalog snapshot; official studio policy and career context added
- Saved release record — Art Collectorz · secondary catalog snapshot · Accessed 2026-07-12 · Starting record for title, date, edition, dimensions, medium, release price and release description. Public access was unavailable during this audit, so primary confirmation remains pending.
- Studio FAQ — certificates and web orders — Mr Brainwash studio · primary artist policy · Accessed 2026-07-12 · The studio says it issues COAs only for works after January 2021 and will not backdate earlier works.
- Collector authentication disclaimer — Mr Brainwash studio · primary artist policy · Accessed 2026-07-12 · The studio does not guarantee externally purchased works and directs collectors to the relevant reseller or gallery.
- About Mr Brainwash — Mr Brainwash studio · primary artist source · Accessed 2026-07-12 · Studio biography and artist-level context; it is not an individual-edition record.
- Life Is Beautiful — first solo exhibition — Mr Brainwash studio · primary artist archive · Accessed 2026-07-12 · Studio history of the 18 June 2008 debut exhibition, which included prints among several media.
Known conflicts or unresolved points:
- Legacy Medium field said Giclee Print; the saved description specifies a seven-color screenprint set.
FAQ
What is the documented edition structure?
Edition of 100 according to the saved release record.
Which signature or authentication features are documented?
The saved release record describes: signed; numbered; artist thumbprint on the reverse. Verify each feature on the physical copy. No certificate is stated in the saved release description. For an individual copy, compare the support, dimensions, edition number, signature, thumbprint and any studio or gallery paperwork. The studio says it cannot guarantee works bought from external vendors.
Is original packaging documented?
Original packaging or presentation was not documented in the release sources reviewed.
How certain are the release details?
The date, edition, dimensions, medium and original-release description come from a saved secondary catalog record. Official studio sources on this page support artist-level context and current authentication policy, but not every release-level field.
