Gully (1977) - The raft, Andy and salvador meet Gericault, Warhol and Dali 1

Artist name: Gully

Nationality: French

Date of birth: 1977, Paris, France

Title of the work: The raft, Andy and salvador meet Gericault, Warhol and Dali 1

Year: 2024

Technique: Mixed media on paper

Dimensions:

Canvas: 116 cm x 110 cm

Framing: No

Signature details: Hand-signed by the artist

Edition: Original work (not numbered), Ref: Acryl-223-1

Provenance:
Work directly from the artist’s studio, Gully. The work is sold with a certificate of authenticity issued by the artist.

Documentation:
Each work is accompanied by a secure authenticity certificate GULLY Control

Condition:
The work is in perfect condition, with no notable imperfections.

Delivery:
The work will be shipped from France, carefully packaged and insured.
Loose canvas (unmounted).

About the artist:
Born in 1977 in the Paris suburbs, Gully began in the graffiti world in the early 1990s, in Val-d’Oise. At 13, passionate about Franco-Belgian comics and hip-hop culture, he discovered the adrenaline of writing: tags, block letters, chrome with a roller, large signatures designed for maximum visibility. Totally self-taught, he trained in the street, at the school of graffiti and camaraderie, developing a sharp sense of lettering and visual impact.

Very quickly, he understood the importance of signature and identity. In 2008, he adopted the pseudonym “Gully,” signaling a transition toward a more pictorial, colorful, and narrative body of work. This name, borrowed from the world of childhood, embodies the carefree spirit and mischief at the heart of his work. Convinced that adults should never lose touch with the child they once were, Gully makes childhood the guiding thread of his artistic universe.

His work draws from multiple references: the clear line of Uderzo, the narrative realism of Norman Rockwell, certain atmospheres of Edward Hopper, but also the heritage of New York graffiti and street art pioneers. Gradually, he emancipates himself from appropriation to develop a singular style, halfway between realism and dreamlike imagery.

The children he depicts no longer merely observe the masterpieces of art history: they interact with them, misappropriate them, question them, creating a dialogue between popular culture and artistic heritage.

His recognition in the art market was swift. In 2009, he participated in his first auction at Millon et Cornette de Saint Cyr. His work Alésia far exceeded its estimate, marking the start of a continuous ascent.

In 2013, a painting surpassed 50,000 euros; in 2019, Hommage NTHK Magritte 17 exceeded 70,000 euros. In 2021, he set a record at a sale organized by Louiza Auction in Brussels: the monumental triptych Children meet Delacroix (2019) sold for 168,000 euros.

He also entered the international market with his first sale at Christie’s in 2015.

Today, Gully stands as a major figure on the contemporary French urban scene. From spray cans to large narrative canvases, his career testifies to a controlled evolution: that of a graffiti-born artist who has built a recognizable universe, where childhood becomes a critical and poetic prism for re-reading art history and our society.