Mr Cute: the urgency to live before it’s game over

Behind the name Mr Cute are Michel and Jean-François, two brothers from Rennes in Brittany who work together to create art that blends pop and street styles. Their story is one of a radical shift: they left everything behind to pursue their passion.

Creative roots

Mr Cute

The artistic streak of the Mr Cute duo runs deep. Their mother was an artist who practised sculpture and painting within local associations. They thus grew up in an environment oscillating between conservatism and creative freedom. After studying art and communication, Michel and Jean-François both worked in audiovisual production while continuing to practise art in their spare time. But 2015 was to change everything.

The turning point of 2015

One day, one of the two brothers was diagnosed with a rare and incurable genetic condition similar to multiple sclerosis. This diagnosis, which was discovered by chance during a routine test, marked a decisive turning point: he gave up his professional career to devote himself entirely to his passion. Rather than being discouraged, the two brothers decided to embrace their artistic calling immediately, without waiting for retirement. ‘Stop waiting for Friday!’ became their motto. Since 2016, they have devoted themselves entirely to their artistic careers, holding numerous exhibitions across Europe and the United States.

Giant slides: the Mr Cute signature

Mr Cute

The duo’s signature work is their famous giant slides — impressive paintings, some of which are up to one metre by one metre — which instantly evoke nostalgia for family slide shows. Inspired by Kodachrome slides from the 1970s and 1980s, these creations pay tribute to the icons that shaped a generation, from cartoon characters to major figures in popular culture. Drawing on the imagination of those decades, the duo explores what the art of each era can reveal about our relationship with the passing of time amidst the ever-increasing urgency to live life to the fullest.

Uchronia as a playground

Mr Cute

Beyond mere nostalgia, Michel and Jean-François excel in the art of uchronia, rewriting history as it might have unfolded. They imagine the unlikely union of Marilyn Monroe and John F. Kennedy, for example, or Rosa Parks witnessing Barack Obama’s election. Parodies, fictional events and alternative scenarios become tools for challenging our perception of reality. They combine screen printing, stencils, collages and lenticular printing to create original works imbued with humour and a sense of the absurd. One of their lenticular creations, dubbed ‘Kutechrome’, features two images in a single frame that transform depending on the viewer’s angle. Each work bears a five-franc coin on the back, the year of which is noted on the certificate of authenticity — a personal touch that has become their trademark.

From socially conscious street art to international galleries

It was during the first lockdown in response to the Covid-19 pandemic that Mr Cute took to the streets, capitalising on the cancellation of art fairs to display anti-homophobia, anti-domestic violence and anti-abuse messages. In March 2021, the duo exhibited a portrait of Serge Gainsbourg on the façade of his former home on Rue de Verneuil in Paris to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of his death. They are also responsible for murals of Étienne Daho in Rennes city centre, as well as one of the Rennes-based rapper Lujipeka.

Today, Mr Cute is represented by several galleries in France, Switzerland, Spain, and the United States. They notably presented a solo exhibition entitled ‘Forever Young’ at the Galerie Sakura in Paris, as well as a Porsche-dedicated exhibition where they transformed car parts destined for the scrap heap into unique works of art. They regularly participate in the Art3f fair and have travelled as far as the Hamptons Art Fair and Miami.

Above all, Mr Cute aims to encourage people to be themselves without fear of displeasing others. Their work reflects the world we accept every day and asks a simple question: what are we waiting for to change it?