I was fortunate enough to stumble upon the Mr. Brainwash exhibit, Icons, while I was in New York City a few weeks ago. Mr. Brainwash, a French street artist who is most popular for the controversial opinions surrounding him, has gained what seems like instant fame this year. M.B., as people call him, gained popularity (and notoriety) from the Banksy-directed film, Exit Through the Gift Shop, which debuted at Sundance this year. 
So why is Mr. Brainwash such a subject of distention? Mr. Brainwash's pieces resemble other street artists which came quite some time before him- such as Shephard Fairey and Banksy. Oddly enough, the artists that M.B. resemble, also added fuel to M.B.'s flame, by helping the wannabe out. 
Some argue Mr. Brainwash is just a vessel for collaborative art between Banksy and Fairey. Others, are equally unimpressed and uninspired by the Frenchmen's work. 
Regardless of outlooks surrounding his work, Mr. Brainwash revamped his New York exhibition this week, adding new pieces to the show which drew more crowds than the opening.