Thierry Noir, the French-born, Berlin-based artist, is celebrated as one of the first painters to transform the Berlin Wall into a canvas for public art. Moving to Berlin in the early 1980s, Noir began painting his now-iconic bright, cartoon-like faces and bold outlines directly onto the Wall, turning a symbol of oppression into one of creative defiance and hope. His simple, playful imagery carried powerful political resonance, helping to inspire the city’s burgeoning street art movement and leaving a lasting cultural legacy. Today, his works can be found in collections and exhibitions worldwide, and he remains a pioneering figure in the history of urban art.