The anonymous king of street art: Banksy Story

Banksy is the mysterious artist behind numerous street art creations admired on streets worldwide. His works are a symbol of creative rebellion and help to address relevant issues.

In this article, we will take a closer look at the story of the anonymous king of street art – Banksy.

What is street art?

Street art is an art form that has developed since the 1960s and is now known worldwide. It consists of artworks created in public spaces, mostly on streets and walls, and often convey political or social messages.

Street artists often work anonymously and deliberately disregard the rules of the art world. A well-known example of a street artist is Banksy, who has attracted worldwide attention with his provocative and ironic works.

His artworks are often political and socially critical, addressing themes such as war, capitalism, and surveillance . Banksy has succeeded street art into the mainstream, thereby also fueling the discussion about the role of art in public spaces.

Learn more about the fascinating world of street art in our other articles on the topic:

• What is street art? Origins, styles, techniques & intentions

• Street art meets pop art: symbiosis or competition?

• The History of Graffiti Art: How This Urban Art Form Came to Be

• The most beautiful street art murals & graffiti in Berlin

• Street Art in Berlin – Mural Art Highlights

• From soup doses to graffiti: The fascinating evolution of Pop Art of Andy Warhol to Banksy

Who is Banksy?

Banksy is an artist known worldwide in the street art scene. But who is actually behind this pseudonym ? To this day, the artist's identity remains unknown, which has only increased his fame and fascination. Very little is known about Banksy himself, as he refuses to be interviewed and carefully protects his anonymity.

Banksy's works have evolved into a subculture in their own right. Banksy's political statements and disruptive visions have influenced cities around the world at pivotal moments in modern history, provoking alternative perspectives and fostering revolutions in the art world.

His identity remains unknown , even after more than 30 years of involvement in the global graffiti scene. He has worked in many street art media and styles, pushing the boundaries and expectations of street art critics. His work comprises powerful, often controversial images that have contributed to the rapid spread of his name and work online. Today, his iconic works are disseminated far beyond measure and used in a wide variety of ways.

Banksy rose to prominence in Bristol, England, in the 1990s and has since revolutionized the art world with his political and socially critical works. His pieces are often provocative and humorous and can be found on public buildings as well as in prestigious museums.

Banksy is a street art icon with a huge following who admire his artwork worldwide. Despite his anonymity, Banksy has had an enormous impact on the art world and will remain a central part of the street art scene in the future.

Street art fans are consistently impressed by the sheer scope, diversity, and boldness of each of his artworks, yet they always crave more. His approach encourages viewers to explore innovative perspectives and ideas, often inspiring both amateur and professional artists. This inspiration is also known as the "Banksy effect .

Numerous claims have been made about Banksy's identity, further fueling media interest. Most recently, many sources, including an entire newspaper article, suggested that the Bristol-based mystery artist's real name Robin Gunninham .

Although the prospect of revealing Banksy's identity would allow for a better understanding of his motives and mission, this claim has never been confirmed. Allegedly, his identity was even kept secret from his family.

Banksy's beginnings in graffiti art

Banksy began his graffiti career by admiring the work of Blek Le Rat . He often recycled the artist's old ideas, forging his own distinctive voice and style. He was initially part of a Bristol graffiti crew called the DryBreadZ Crew , or DBZ . Soon after, he partnered with Inkie , another well-known street graffiti artist.

At the age of 18, Banksy was almost caught by the police vandalizing public spaces. As his crew fled the scene, Banksy hid under a garbage truck. He noticed stencil letters sprayed on the truck, and since he had been looking for a faster way to paint at the time, he decided that stencils would be his new graffiti style .

Banksy's works often consist of multi-layered stencils combined with other media. He sometimes incorporates objects already present on his chosen "canvas," such as street signs and fire hydrants, to transform his work into striking street art installations . His artworks are often satirical, combining dark humor with messages about art, philosophy, and politics.

In the early 2000s, Banksy moved from Bristol to London , where he began to gain notoriety; but at the same time, his international work gained momentum.

Palestine – Love is in the Air

He soon decided to travel to Palestine and the West Bank , where he stenciled nine now-iconic images onto the newly constructed West Bank wall, including "Love is in the Air" and "Rage, The Flower Thrower ." These images were an instant hit, and their popularity exploded online.

The mural first appeared on a wall on the side of a garage on the Beit Sahour highway, opposite the Citroen/Peugeot dealership in Jerusalem . The man in the painting is wearing a scarf and a baseball cap and appears to be pointing flowers at someone in anger.

The man and the flower arrangement are rendered in black and white. The blossoms and the stem protruding from the wrapper are in color. The portrait is reminiscent of images from the street and campus riots of the 1960s . The anger and frustration are evident in the man's posture as he attempts to bombard the café with flowers.

At this time, Banksy's screen prints and stencil paintings achieved record-breaking sales at prestigious art auctions such as Sotheby's and Bonhams in London. These successful sales marked Banksy's dramatic entry into the world of commercial art .

Murals in the West Bank, “Barely Legal” and “Cans Festival”

In 2005, Banksy also painted a wall on the Palestinian side of the West Bank : On the viewer's side, children are playing on a deserted patch of earth, while through an apparent hole in the wall, the scene of a perfect tropical beach can be seen.

Banksy described himself as a "quality vandal" who questioned the authority of political and artistic institutions on both the right and the left.

In September 2006, his week-long warehouse installation "Barely Legal" in Los Angeles, for which he decorated a live elephant, attracted large crowds despite a lack of advertising.

In 2006, he depicted a naked man clinging to a windowsill on the side of a public family planning clinic in Bristol, England; local residents voted to keep the mural.

In 2008, at his “Cans Festival” – a play on the Cannes Film Festival – Banksy encouraged visitors to add their own art to a railway tunnel in south London where he and 40 international artists had painted airbrush pictures.

The following year, he organized a surprise exhibition at the City Museum and Art Gallery in Bristol . It featured animatronics, oil paintings, and an old ice cream cart.

Exit Through the Gift Shop – the first street art disaster film

In 2010, Banksy took on the role of writer and filmmaker for his film "Exit Through the Gift Shop" (available for streaming on Amazon Prime* ).

Video documentarian Thierry Guetta gets involved in the international graffiti and street art scene through his cousin. Through artists like Space Invader and Shepard Fairey, he not only wants to get close to the reclusive street art guru Banksy, but also to pick up a spray can and achieve fame himself.

The documentary supposedly portrays the life and work of the world's most talented graffiti artists. However, critics were divided on the film, with some taking it at face value, while others considered it satire, featuring documentary filmmaker Thierry Guetta (who, some suspected, was an actor paid by Banksy). Or perhaps it was Banksy himself acting as a commentator on the commercialization of art.

Banksy as a book author

Banksy's books – including "Banging Your Head Against a Brick Wall" (2001, available as a collector's item on Amazon* ), "Existencilism" (2002, available as a collector's item on Amazon* ) and "Wall and Piece" (2005, available as a paperback on Amazon* ) – documented his projects; iconic examples of his work, including a life-size image of two kissing policemen, were featured in the dystopian science fiction film Children of Men (2006).

Dismaland, Walled Off Hotel and later works

In September 2015, Dismaland , his most ambitious project to date, in Weston-super-Mare, England

a family attraction that acknowledges inequality and impending catastrophe.”.

Among the attractions and facilities was a fake security checkpoint created by Bill Barminski , where visitors' belongings were examined in a cardboard X-ray machine, and disgruntled visitors wandered through the park wearing T-shirts emblazoned with the word "Dismal" .

Parties and concerts by various bands also took place in the park, often lasting late into the night. Dismaland closed in September 2015.

Banksy's next major project, the Walled Off Hotel , opened in Bethlehem in 2017. The hotel was built next to the barrier wall separating Israel from the Palestinian territories and ironically offers

"The worst view of any hotel in the world"

It features rooms decorated with original works by the artist and a gallery exhibiting works by Palestinian artists. In nine rooms designed by Banksy himself, guests could literally sleep inside a work of art.

Originally conceived as a temporary and provocative installation artwork, the Walled Off Hotel quickly became a popular tourist attraction. Alongside the site of Jesus' alleged birth, a traditional pilgrimage destination, the controversial 700 km long wall is now a surprising tourist draw.

In the same year, Banksy addressed the “Brexit” , the planned withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (EU), by painting the EU flag on the side of a building in Dover and having a worker touchingly remove one of its stars.

Other important artworks by Banksy

In the world of street art , there is perhaps no artist as famous and yet as anonymous as Banksy. His works can now be found all over the world, attracting the attention of art lovers and laypeople alike. But what makes Banksy's artwork so special?

On the one hand, it's certainly the political and socio-critical messages he conveys in his works. On the other hand, it's also the way he presents his art. Whether it's a mural, an installation, or a painting – Banksy always manages to surprise and fascinate the viewer.

His artworks are often provocative and spark debate, which is certainly one reason for his popularity. Although Banksy remains anonymous, he has managed to amass a worldwide following, and his art has long since made its way from the street art scene into established art galleries.

Better Out Than In – Banksy's Street Sale

In October 2013, Banksy undertook a month-long residency in New York City titled "Better Out Than In ." During this time, he unveiled a new work each day. On the 13th day, the artist disguised himself as a typical street vendor and set up a stall in Central Park, where he sold original black-and-white paintings for $60. Only eight artworks were sold.

The following day, Banksy authenticated these eight canvases on his website with the message:

Yesterday I set up a stall in the park selling 100% authentic, original signed Banksy canvases.”

For $60 each. A year later, “Winnie the Pooh” , which was bought during Banksy’s stay in New York, was sold at Bonhams in London on July 2, 2014 for £56,250.

Venice in Oil – Criticism of Mass Tourism

Banksy's relationship with tourism is complex; while he often encourages it, he also regularly denounces it for its negative impacts. To criticize the mass tourism that threatens the Italian city of Venice, Banksy unveiled "Venice in Oil" , a series of nine oil paintings that together depict a large cruise ship.

Destroyed Banksy fetches record price at Sotheby's

In October 2018, a painting by the anonymous street artist Banksy sold for £1.04 million at Sotheby's auction house in London. Shortly after the gavel fell, the 2006 "Girl with Balloon" "It looks like we've just met Banksy," reported Alex Branczik, Senior Director and Head of Contemporary Art in Europe at Sotheby's ( New York Times ).

The piece in question was a famous Banksy print called "Girl with Balloon" from 2004. Banksy's balloon girl, voted Britain's most popular artwork in 2017, was the first example of a self-destructive painting. Banksy posted a video on his Instagram account to confirm that the action was intentional and to show how he had built a shredding device into the large gold frame.

The work was subsequently given a new title: "Love is in the Bin" . Ironically, shortly afterwards, a less experienced Banksy owner actually shredded his own Banksy print, hoping that the stunt would increase the value of his investment, but was very disappointed.

“Devolved Parliament” and “Mediterranean Sea View”

In October 2019, another Banksy artwork took the country by storm. Amid the political controversy at the time, Banksy released "Devolved Parliament ," a painting depicting the House of Commons overrun by monkeys.

It sold at Sotheby’s for an incredible £9.9 million, making it the most expensive Banksy painting ever sold. In typical Banksy fashion, he reacted to the sale on Instagram with a quote from Robert Hughes:

But the price of a work of art is now part of its function; its new task is to sit on the wall and become more expensive.”

In a typically charitable move, Banksy donated a series of three paintings entitled "Mediterranean Sea View" for auction in 2020 to raise money for a hospital in Bethlehem.

The oil paintings were executed in a detailed, traditional style that had gained prominence in Banksy's work at that time. Naturally, the breathtaking landscapes were given a Banksy touch: life jackets washed ashore, intended to allude to the growing European refugee crisis.

“Show Me The Monet”, “Game Changer” and new auction records

Banksy's ability to continually break and challenge his own records continued to surprise the art market when, in October 2020, Banksy's reinterpretation of Monet's famous water lilies, titled "Show Me The Monet," was auctioned for 7.5 million pounds.

This made it the second most expensive of his works to be sold at auction. The piece was part of a series of remix masterpieces and commented on the threat that society's wasteful consumerism poses to nature.

In response to the global coronavirus pandemic in 2020, Banksy hung a brand new black and white artwork in the foyer of Southampton General Hospital, depicting a young boy playing with an NHS “superhero”

He released a statement thanking the NHS for its work and expressing his hope that the painting would brighten up the hospital. The piece was later titled "Game Changer ." To mark the one-year anniversary of the UK lockdown, "Game Changer" was auctioned for £16.8 million, with all proceeds donated to the NHS.

This price far exceeded all expectations and made this piece the most expensive Banksy ever sold.

Banksy's artistic endeavors continue to take him around the world. His artworks have appeared in Australia, France, Italy, the United States, Canada, Jamaica, and Israel, and are immediately protected and venerated.

The cult of personality surrounding Banksy and his anonymity

It's no secret that the artist Banksy has an immense fan base. The cult surrounding Banksy and his anonymity seem to be a significant component of this.

His identity remains a mystery, and this gives his works a kind of mystical character. It's almost as if the artist's anonymity contributes to his artwork gaining even more meaning and relevance.

It's a kind of "mystery" that fascinates fans and compels them to learn more about the artist and his art. Banksy's anonymity is an essential part of his art and contributes to his legend.

Why is Banksy so successful?

One of the reasons is certainly his anonymity. Banksy has managed to turn himself into a myth . Nobody really knows who he is, which allows him to create his artwork in peace, without being caught by the authorities.

Another reason for his success is his ability to address political and social issues in his work. Banksy has managed to present his art in a way that is understandable to everyone and prompts people to reflect on the issues he raises.

Although anonymous, Banksy has an incredible ability to connect with people and convey a message that resonates with everyone. His artworks are not only beautiful to look at, but also inspiring and moving.

Controversies and criticism of Banksy's art

It's no secret that Banksy's artwork is often the subject of controversy. Some critics accuse him of creating works that are only superficially political and fail to bring about any real change. Others accuse him of glorifying the illegal act of graffiti through his art and thus breaking the law.

There are also ongoing discussions about whether it is ethically justifiable that his artworks are sold for millions of dollars, even though they were originally created illegally on public land.

Despite this criticism, Banksy has managed to revolutionize the street art scene and his art has found a worldwide fan base.

What's next for the street art movement?

It's no secret that the street art movement has gained enormous popularity in recent years. But what's next for this art form? Will it continue to be considered illegal, or will it eventually be recognized as an art form?

Some artists, like Banksy, have already made it into galleries and museums, but it remains to be seen whether this will also be the case for other street artists. Some argue that the commercialization of the street art movement has betrayed its authenticity and rebellious spirit.

Others, however, believe this is a natural development and that the movement will continue to grow and change. One thing is certain: street art will always be an important part of the art world, and its significance will not fade anytime soon.

Legal disputes

Although he became increasingly famous, Banksy remained anonymous; his rare interviews were conducted via email or with answers from a disguised voice on tape. He continued to advocate for street art, stating that life in a city where graffiti was legal,

like a party to which everyone is invited.”.

Nevertheless, the popularity of Banksy's works led to numerous unauthorized exhibitions and reproductions. Although artists typically rely on copyright to protect their works from such use, copyright law requires the disclosure of the artist's identity.

Instead, in 2014 Banksy began trademarking his work and later founded Gross Domestic Product , a temporary online shop selling merchandise inspired by his art. Between 2020 and 2021, the European Union Intellectual Property Office rejected several of Banksy's registration applications, arguing that they were made in bad faith.

The Mystery of Banksy “A Genius Mind” – The blockbuster exhibition about the street art superstar

The successful exhibition “The Mystery of Banksy – A Genius Mind” takes up the theme of this art icon and presents an unprecedented collection of over 150 works by the celebrated street art superstar.

The exhibition features graffiti, photographs, sculptures, video installations and prints, which were specially reproduced for this special exhibition and assembled from various materials such as canvas, fabric, aluminum, Forex and Plexiglas.

In an elaborate and unique setting, “The Mystery of Banksy – A Genius Mind” the visitor a comprehensive insight into the complete works of the exceptional artist .

It should be noted that this tribute and the works shown are not authorized by the artist due to Banksy's anonymous status, but true to his motto

Copyright is for losers ©TM”

will be presented.

Exhibition website: mystery-banksy.com

Conclusion

In summary, Banksy is one of the most influential figures in street art. His work has not only revolutionized the art world but also changed the public perception of graffiti and street art.

Banksy's anonymity and his political messages have brought him enormous popularity and recognition. His artworks are not only visually appealing, but also profound and provocative.

Banksy has managed to blur the lines between art and activism , creating a new form of artistic expression.

Even though his identity remains a secret, Banksy will continue to be an important player in the art world.

Here is a link to his official website: www.banksy.co.uk