“House of Banksy” – Works by the street art superstar in Munich

Masterpieces by the enigmatic street art megastar are on display at the “House of Banksy” in Munich. The new pop-up exhibition celebrated its world premiere on June 14th in the basement of the former Galeria Kaufhof department store at Stachus Square in the Bavarian capital.

The art world has been fascinated for years by Banksy , one of the most famous and mysterious street artists of our time. His works are provocative, profound, and often imbued with a political undertone.

The exhibition “House of Banksy – An Unauthorized Exhibition”  offers art lovers in Germany a rare opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of this enigmatic artist and admire an impressive collection of his works.

Banksy: An Enigma

Banksy, whose true identity remains a closely guarded secret, began his career as a graffiti artist on the streets of Bristol, England, in the 1990s. Impressed by the urban art scene and inspired by artists such as Blek le Rat , Banksy quickly developed his own style. His works, often a combination of stencils and spray paint, are characterized by sharp humor and biting social commentary, anti-war messages, or critiques of consumer culture.

The power of anonymity

A key aspect that distinguishes Banksy from other artists is his anonymity. This not only creates a special appeal but has also significantly contributed to his cult status. In a world where artistic fame often goes hand in hand with excessive media presence, Banksy deliberately remains in the shadows.

This secrecy not only protects him from legal consequences, but also allows for an unbiased view of his art.

According to some media reports, the graffiti guru is believed to be from Bristol and is estimated to be between 45 and 50 years old. His identity, however, remains a closely guarded secret, which only adds to his mystique. Nevertheless, clues to his identity surfacing, and names are repeatedly thrown into the mix during media discussions.

The streets and auctions are his stage, where Banksy operates as one of the most expensive and celebrated artists of our time.

The social relevance

Banksy's works are more than just art; they are a statement. His art challenges society to confront questions about authority, war, consumerism, and inequalities in the world.

The themes he addresses are universal and timeless, which explains why his work resonates worldwide. His art is both rebellious and profound, a blend of irony, political message, and visual poetry.

His popularity and public support are therefore no accident: in a 2009 referendum, a full 97 percent of Bristol's citizens voted against removing his artwork. He is a superstar far removed from any conventions or sales figures – as early as 2010, Time magazine one of the 100 most influential people in the world, in good company with figures like Barack Obama and Steve Jobs (see The 2010 TIME 100 ).

Banksy is not just an artist – he is the voice of millions of people and has long been a living legend.

Banksy in Ukraine – Messages for Peace

In November 2022, several new artworks, confirmed by Banksy, caused a sensation and impressively documented the artist's solidarity with the people in war-torn Ukraine .

The artworks on the rubble are sprayed memorials: Two children transform a tank barrier into a seesaw, an abandoned chair becomes a lookout point for a woman with a gas mask and fire extinguisher, a child in a judo uniform throws his seemingly superior opponent to the ground, to name just a few examples.

Many of Banksy's works from recent years have now found their way into the commercial sphere. The question of whether street art should be commercialized is certainly open to discussion.

Should his art be exhibited, or should street art in general be shown in museums or galleries? After all, Banksy also stands for the rejection of commercialism. Banksy himself provides the answer, as demonstrated by the exhibition at the Gallery of Modern Art in Glasgow from June to the end of August 2023, which – for the first time in 14 years – was authorized by the artist himself.

Spectacular auctions pave his way

2018 auction of his work "Girl with Balloon" Sotheby's in London. The painting self-destructed after the sale, using a shredder hidden in the frame. It had previously been auctioned for €1.2 million.

The previous record price for a Banksy work was around €1.7 million in New York in 2008. In 2019, the painting “Devolved Parliament” auctioned again at Sotheby's in London and fetched £9.9 million (€11.1 million).

Banksy commented on Instagram:

It's a shame it no longer belongs to me

A triptych on the refugee crisis, titled “Mediterranean Sea View 2017,” surprisingly fetched €2.4 million in 2020, which the artist donated to a Palestinian hospital. “Show Me the Monet ,” Banksy’s ironic reinterpretation of a Monet masterpiece, was auctioned for £7.6 million (€8.4 million) in 2020.

Banksy transforms the idyllic scene of Monet's "The Japanese Bridge" into an illegal dumping ground, lined with discarded trash. Banksy painted this oil painting in 2005 and first presented it in a gallery exhibition.

In March 2021, the artist Banksy achieved a new record: His painting “Game Changer” , which he secretly placed in the corridor of a hospital in Southampton in May 2020 and dedicated to the hospital staff, was successfully auctioned at Christie’s and achieved an impressive price of almost 17 million pounds (just under 20 million euros).

The proceeds, according to Banksy's express wishes, were to benefit the entire British National Health Service (NHS). The image shows a young boy who has thrown away his superhero figures of Batman and Spiderman and is now playing with a new favorite – a nurse wearing a face mask and cape.

Banksy last broke his own record in October 2021. “Love is in the Bin” was auctioned again and fetched a price of 18.5 million pounds (approximately 21.6 million euros) – the shredded “Girl with Balloon,” which had already gone under the hammer in 2018. The identity of the buyer of the artwork for this new record sum remains unknown to this day.

The exhibition: A visual experience for the artist's largest retrospective

The organizers of the successful exhibition “The Mystery of Banksy – A Genius Mind” returned to Munich on June 14, 2024, with a new pop-up concept and another world premiere. Titled “House of Banksy – An Unauthorized Exhibition,” the exhibition, located in the former Galeria Kaufhof department store at Stachus, now known as B-TWEEN , will feature a unique presentation of over 200 artworks by the celebrated artist.

This exhibition, which represents the  largest showcase of his art worldwide, differs significantly from all previous Banksy exhibitions and promises a unique experience for visitors of all kinds.

Visitors are immersed in a captivating world that draws attention to Banksy's most iconic works and the stories behind them. Alongside well-known graffiti pieces like "Girl with Balloon" and "Rage, the Flower Thrower ," the exhibition also showcases lesser-known works that are rarely seen by the general public.

Graffiti , photographs, sculptures, video installations, and prints on various materials such as canvas, wood, aluminum, plaster, concrete, brick, and plexiglass were reproduced and compiled specifically for this exhibition. In an exclusive and unique setting, visitors gain a comprehensive insight into the complete works of this outstanding artist .

This tribute and the presented image installations are not authorized by the artist himself due to his anonymous identity. Approximately 80% of the exhibited graffiti and motifs are now barely or not at all accessible in their original form. They have been removed, destroyed, painted over, or torn from the walls and then auctioned off for high prices.

Some of these works, especially his screen prints, are now in private collections or with art dealers. The impressive reproductions, created and sprayed live on-site for each exhibition by an internationally renowned team of graffiti artists, allow viewers to follow in Banksy's footsteps and experience his art in an unprecedented way and up close.

“We want to make the works, and above all the message behind each of his actions and works, accessible to the public again and highlight how important it is to protect the few remaining originals in public spaces. For the reasons outlined, it is not possible to mount an exhibition like this with originals on this scale.”

so says Oliver Forster, the producer of the exhibition.

The exhibition is curated by Virginia Jean curator and gallery owner, originally from England and living in Berlin

Banksy's art – a reflection of our society

The exhibition invites a broad audience to discover the messages of this artistic genius without having to travel far. Here, in one place, visitors can admire the most famous works of street artist Banksy, which address current issues such as war, xenophobia, police brutality, the refugee crisis, capitalism, environmental protection, violence against women, surveillance, and also the Corona pandemic.

An Austrian daily newspaper aptly described the exhibition as “a sprayed reflection of society .” Banksy aims to inspire, move, and simultaneously provoke thought and polarize with his art. His actions are both spectacular and meticulously planned, perfectly capturing the spirit of the times.

His art is not about self-promotion or advertising his latest works, but rather a critical commentary on injustices and problems that we often choose to ignore. The careful and deliberate selection of locations for his works underscores his ambition and impact. This undoubtedly places Banksy among the most important artists of our time, and it is not without reason that he is often referred to as a modern-day Robin Hood.

A look behind the scenes

In addition to the visual exhibits, the “House of Banksy” offers numerous interactive elements and background information. Documentaries and interviews with associates and art critics provide deep insights into Banksy's motivation and the creative processes behind his works.

These additional details allow visitors to understand the social and political issues that inspire Banksy.

What makes visiting the exhibition special?

In addition to art historical and critical observations, the “House of Banksy” also offers visitors practical workshops where they can try out stencil techniques themselves.

For families, there are special programs that make art accessible and engaging for children. In addition, expert guided tours ensure that no detail goes unnoticed.

In the following video, münchen.tv inside the exhibition:

“Louise Michel” donation project – Banksy yacht rescues refugees in distress at sea

The MV Louise Michel , named after the French anarchist and feminist Louise Michel, is a civilian high-speed vessel that has been patrolling the central Mediterranean since 2020 to rescue migrants in distress at sea. Acquired by the French customs authority, the ship, with a top speed of up to 28 knots, is more than twice as fast as the large civilian rescue vessels.

Banksy acquired the MV Louise Michel and painted the 30-meter-long ship a striking pink, complete with a fire extinguisher. The design depicts a little girl in a life jacket holding a heart-shaped lifebuoy, a reference to Banksy's famous work "Girl with Balloon." Banksy commented ironically in an Instagram video:

Like most people who have made it in the art world, I bought a yacht to cruise around the Mediterranean.”

The MV Louise Michel sails under the German flag and is supported by Sea-Watch , a German association based in Berlin whose primary goal is the rescue of refugees in the Mediterranean. Operating a rescue ship incurs considerable costs for port fees, spare parts, maintenance, crew provisions, and travel expenses.

In the following video from The Guardian , you can see how the German charity Sea-Watch and the Italian coast guard sent ships to the rescue boat funded by the British street artist after it urgently called for help, saying it was stranded in the Mediterranean and overcrowded with people.

To promote this important work, the MV Louise Michel has been given its own dedicated area at the exhibition. Visitors are warmly invited to support the project financially, with donations being matched by the organizers and donated in full to “Handbreit – nautical safety solutions”, the ship's owner.

Those who would also like to support the project can do so via these links:

• https://mvlouisemichel.org/
• https://www.betterplace.org/de/organisations/49797-handbreit-nautical-safety-solutions

Information about advance ticket sales

To efficiently organize visitor flow, we recommend booking a time slot .

For those who prefer flexibility or want to give tickets without a fixed date, flex/gift tickets are available. Entry to the exhibition is possible at any time, however, these tickets are only available in limited quantities. Tickets can be conveniently purchased at www.banksy-munich.de and are also available at usual ticket outlets and at the box office from the start of the exhibition.

The ticket price includes an informative multimedia tour that you can conveniently access on your smartphone.

The exhibition is bilingual and accessible : texts are in German and English. The exhibition is wheelchair accessible.

Exhibition information at a glance

“House of Banksy – An Unauthorized Exhibition”
Exhibition period: From June 14, 2024 – For a limited time only!

Opening hours: Mon/Tue/Wed/Sun & Public Holidays 10am – 6pm,
Thu/Fri/Sat 10am – 8pm

Where: B-TWEEN, 1st basement level (Former Galeria Kaufhof Stachus)
Karlsplatz 21-24
80335 Munich

Tickets are available at www.banksy-munich.de, at all known ticket outlets and from the start of the exhibition at the box office.

Further information can be found at www.banksy-munich.de

About the organizer COFO Entertainment from Passau

For over 50 years, COFO Entertainment has been a leading promoter of live entertainment and exhibitions in German-speaking countries. Managing Director Oliver Forster successfully creates musical biographies of music legends and organizes touring exhibitions such as "The Terracotta Army" and "Tutankhamun ." Even during the pandemic, exhibition projects were expanded, including immersive experience exhibitions on artists such as Van Gogh and Dalí as well as street art shows.

With around 50 completed projects, COFO Entertainment is one of the major players in the exhibition business, including the pop-up concept “House of Banksy”.

Click here to go to the organizer's website: www.cofo.de

FAQs: Frequently asked questions about Banksy and the “House of Banksy” exhibition

1. How long does the “House of Banksy” exhibition last?

The exhibition's duration may vary. Please visit the official exhibition website for the latest information.

2. Is Banksy a single artist or a collective?

Although many speculate that Banksy might be a collective, there is no clear evidence for this. The majority of art critics assume that Banksy is an individual, supported by a small group of confidants.

3. Is it possible to buy Banksy's original works?

Banksy's original works are extremely rare and fetch high prices at auctions. However, there are many reproductions and prints authorized by the artist that are available for purchase.

4. What security measures are in place at the exhibition?

To protect the artworks and provide visitors with a safe experience, enhanced security measures, such as cameras and security personnel, are used as standard practice.

5. Why does Banksy remain anonymous?

Banksy's anonymity allows him to express himself freely without fear of legal or personal reprisals. Furthermore, the mystery surrounding his identity fuels the fascination and myth surrounding his art.

6. Are there any official Banksy museums?

There are no official Banksy museums. Exhibitions like the “House of Banksy” are temporary events created by various organizations and curators.

The “House of Banksy” exhibition is a must-see for every art lover and anyone interested in the social issues of our time. Explore the insightful and often startling works of one of the most influential artists of our generation and be inspired by Banksy's creative genius.