Berthet One
Born in Paris in 1976, of Congolese origin, Berthet One grew up in La Courneuve, Seine-Saint-Denis. His journey is that of a resilient man, forged by his experiences, who transforms hardships into creative strength. Today recognized as an artist, he establishes himself in graffiti, street art, and as a comic book author. He is also a committed actor in rehabilitation through art.
At a very young age, he developed a passion for drawing after discovering the illustrator CABU on the show Récré A2 . This revelation marked the beginning of a love for lines and images. At the same time, hip-hop was sweeping France and shaping his generation. He was immersed in this culture and, from middle school, began graffiti in the city of 4000. He became a full-fledged player in the movement, gradually covering the walls of Île-de-France.
But his path took a dark turn. He dropped out of school, fell into delinquency, and in 2006 was sentenced to ten years in prison for robbery. This time in prison was a shock. Berthet returned to his studies, earning a literary baccalaureate and then a BTS in communications. It was at this point that he immersed himself again in drawing. First as a mental escape, then as a means of expression and reconstruction. A guard noticed his talent, encouraged him to write, and directed him toward art workshops.
His style is touching. Despite his imprisonment, he exhibited his works at the "Talents Cachés" exhibition in Issy-les-Moulineaux, and in 2009 won the Grand Prix of the Transmurilles competition in Angoulême. This recognition paved the way for his conditional release in February 2010. Upon his release, he exhibited at the Wild Stylerz Gallery, then published in 2011 L'Évasion, journal d'un condamné , a comic strip born in prison, which sold more than 10,000 copies. In it, he describes the prison reality with humor and lucidity. In 2015, he published the second volume Vive la Liberthet , with a preface by Cabu, this time retracing the aftermath, freedom, hardships, choices, and reconstruction.
But Berthet One doesn't just want to tell his story, he also wants to pass it on. In 2013, he founded the Makadam association, which works for prevention, reintegration, and access to culture. Through art and drawing, he leads workshops in prisons, youth centers, schools, media libraries, etc. He helps young people, prisoners, and vulnerable groups believe in themselves, rebuild their lives, and dream again. He is also a regular speaker for the association Lire pour s'en sortir ( Reading to Get Out), which combines reading, drawing, and testimonials to open minds.
His ambition transcends borders: he wishes to extend his actions to Africa, his continent of origin, to promote art as a lever for emancipation.
A committed artist, his works—whether murals, drawings, or canvases—question society with humor, critical thinking, and urban poetry. In 2023, he received a graffiti and street art award from a jury chaired by Richard Orlinski. The following year, he became the first artist to sign with StartingBlock, the agency founded by rapper Booba, Anne Cibron, and Claire Dabrowski.
