BLEK LE RAT IN MAYFAIR: 45 YEARS OF THE FATHER OF STENCIL GRAFFITI
Thursday 5th November 2026
Blek le Rat in his studio, Paris, 2026 | Photo: Chris Sinclair-Birt, Courtesy of Woodbury House.
Mayfair’s art scene is set for a rather significant addition this winter, as Woodbury House prepares to present Forty-Five Years of Blek le Rat, a major solo exhibition celebrating one of the most influential figures in street art. Opening on 20th November 2026, the exhibition brings more than 45 new works by the celebrated French artist to the gallery’s Sackville Street address.
Often referred to as the ‘Father of Stencil Graffiti’, Blek le Rat, born Xavier Prou, first made his mark on the streets of Paris in 1981, painting small black rats using paper stencils and spray paint. His distinctive visual language would go on to influence a generation of urban artists, including Banksy and Shepard Fairey. Recent work includes ‘The Burden Of Victory’, 2026 (see cover photo).
Rather than a retrospective, this exhibition offers a fascinating insight into the artist’s present-day practice, with every work created in 2026. Across two chapters, visitors can rediscover familiar motifs, including the Madonna, the Tango and the Spaceman, alongside Flashbacks, a compelling new series of portraits depicting the people who have shaped his life and work, from Pablo Picasso to 50 Cent.
Blek le Rat in his studio, Paris, 2026 | Photo: Chris Sinclair-Birt, Courtesy of Woodbury House.
Among the highlights is a recreation of The Louvre, recalling the hoarding Blek le Rat painted in 1984, alongside original paintings, screenprints and a new bronze sculpture. An exclusive limited-edition Madonna screenprint, signed and numbered in an edition of 45, will also be available for £1,750.
For Mayfair residents, collectors and admirers of contemporary art, this is a rare opportunity to encounter an artist whose influence continues to shape the cultural landscape, while his own story is still being written.
Forty-Five Years of Blek le Rat runs from 20th November - 29th January 2027
Woodbury House, 29 Sackville Street, Mayfair
