Who is hiding behind Banksy? All clues to the identity of the street artist

The British street art artist Banksy , whose works dominate million in million and amazed entire cities, remains hidden in the shade of fame even.

But who is really behind the pseudonym Banksy? Who is Banksy?

This question always looms over his works and comes to the forefront whenever new pieces by the mysteriously enigmatic graffiti artist appear, as recently at the London Zoo and the Royal Courts of Justice.

The mystery about the identity of Banksy

The art of Banksy is difficult to ignore. His provocative pictures not only adorn walls in London and numerous cities of the world, but also find their place in renowned galleries worldwide.

His works, often classified as temporary art, are characterised by sharp social and political commentary in Banksy's distinctive stencil technique. He staged spectacular actions, such as in 2003 at Tate Britain, where he disguised himself as an old man to smuggle one of his works into the gallery, or in 2004 at the Musée du Louvre. He does not manage, authenticate and sell his works publicly, but through his own agency, Pest Control.

But despite its cultural importance and the commercial success, Banksy's identity remains a mystery . The secret to the artist is so strong that even experts do not find a clear answer in their research. In doing so, you have collected information in the form of videos, newspaper articles and Mirrors interviews to put light on the dark. However, the question arises as to why it is so difficult to identify Banksy.

In our analysis, we conducted our own in-depth research and compared it with reports in other media.

Anonymity as a central aspect of Banksy's artistic and political aesthetics

As an "art guerrilla" or "insurrectionist," he empowers himself to target powerful institutions, consumer society, and social injustice. His anonymity allows him to freely express his opinions without fear of direct consequences or reprisals, especially since his art is often illegal.

The anonymity of his works serves as a catalyst to reinforce the political message. The lack of personalization directs the focus to the work and its message. Banksy has explained his fame with quotes like "Any fame is a by-product of making something that means something" and "Remember, it's always easier to get forgiveness than permission .

Originally conceived as a protective mechanism, anonymity has evolved over time into a conceptual framework that promotes the global cult of personality around Banksy while simultaneously increasing his market value.

However, political resistance now conflicts with commercial success. Although Banksy has rhetorically positioned himself against the establishment, saying that "copyright is for losers ," he nevertheless created a legal entity called Pest Control to protect his vast fortune and copyrights. Defending this economic brand is already leading to complex legal conflicts that threaten the street artist's anonymity.

Nevertheless, there are various theories about Banksy's identity. From a renowned street artist from London to a woman or a collective of artists operating under the name Banksy – the speculations are diverse.

The facts – What is known about the artist's identity?

Confirmed information about Banksy's origins shows that the artist has his roots in the English city of Bristol . There, as an aspiring artist in the 1990s, he began leaving his graffiti in urban spaces. Bristol's creative scene is the reason why the city has produced many musicians and artists.

Banksy's career began in the 1990s; he started with the DryBreadZ crew freehand graffiti before moving to stenciling. Over time, however, he evolved into a more politically charged artist, eventually becoming the street artist we know and admire today.

A masterpiece from his early career is the large-scale stencil mural "The Mild Mild West," created in 1999 in Stokes Croft, Bristol. The gentle tone of the artwork is conveyed by the image of a teddy bear throwing a Molotov cocktail at three riot police officers.

The artist completed the work within three days in daylight, and it can still be admired in the city today, along with other artworks by him.

In an (anonymous) interview with the Zeitschrift Swindle from 2006, Banksy once said:

I come from a relatively small town in southern England. When I was about ten years old, a boy named 3D painted the streets full. I think he was in New York and was the first to bring the spray color to Bristol. I grew up on the street with spray paint, long before I saw her in a magazine or on a computer. ”

3D stopped painting and founded the band Massive Attack, which might be good for him, but a big loss for the city. Graffiti was what we all loved at school. We did it on the bus on our way home from school. Everyone did it. "

The only thing that is definitely genuine is what Banksy himself has authenticated website , in his books and on his Instagram channel @banksy

What theories are there on the identity of Banksy?

There are many theories about Banksy's identity. On social media, the most crazy ideas and assumptions are carried out by the virtual ether.

Let's focus on the most popular, stubborn and most likely of it.

Theory #1: White, under 50 years old, red-haired

Ulrich Blanché , a renowned art historian, is considered an expert on Banksy. In June 2022, NDR broadcast an interview with him * in which he discussed the mystery surrounding the artist.

Blanché has already written several books about Banksy and, based on numerous interviews from the 80s and 90s, concluded that it is most likely a white man under 50 years old.

It is believed this man could have red hair and worked as a foam painter and festival truck painter in the 90s before disappearing into anonymity. It is possible he also had a hare lip and had surgery on his face, but this information is unconfirmed and could be wrong.

Theory #2: Robin Gunningham

The most common assumption is that the creator of the Banksy artwork is none other than Robin Gunningham . Gunningham was born in 1973 in Yate, a town near Bristol, and many of his former classmates firmly believe he is the real Banksy.

According to his former school friends, Gunningham was always a talented artist who often created cartoons. It is believed that he began his career under the name "Robin Banks ," which later evolved into "Banksy .

Banksy himself has confirmed that his love of drawing began during his school days. A photo of Gunningham taken in Jamaica shows him using a spray can and stencils. This has further fueled speculation and led many people to believe that Robin Gunningham is actually Banksy.

There is a strong rumor that in 2018 an original work by Robin Gunningham was auctioned, which is the only work he signed with his name. The price of £ 4,000 seems fair for an otherwise unknown artist. The work is an illustrated plate cover for the album "Oh My God It's Cheeky Clown" by the ska band "Mother Samosa" from Bristol and shows similarities with Banksy's earlier graffiti style .

The QMUL study

In 2016, criminologists at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) used geographic profiling to attempt to establish a connection between Gunningham and Banksy artworks in London and Bristol. Researchers at the university used Banksy's artworks as a data source, taking 140 artworks in London and Bristol as a starting point.

The results of the QMUL study showed a statistically significant correlation between the peaks of the geoprofiles and the known addresses associated with Robin Gunningham.

The model's performance is measured by the Hit Score Percentage (HS%) , which indicates what percentage of the search area would have to be searched to find the perpetrator's location. A lower HS% indicates higher precision:

Summary of QMUL geoprofiling results (Hauge et al., 2016)

City	Gunningham-associated place	Function of the place	Hit Score Percentage (HS%)	Classification of the geoprofile peak
London	Old Street Area (Millward)	Wife's former residential address	0.7%	Highest probability (top 1%)
London	Great North Road Area (Millward)	Wife's former residential address	3.8%	In the top 10% of the geoprofile
Bristol	Easton Home	Gunningham's former residence	5.5%	In the top 10% of the geoprofile
Bristol	Baptist Mills Primary School	Former sports facility	6.8%	In the top 10% of the geoprofile

The "Geographic Profiling" is often used to solve series crimes. Here, crime scenes and other factors are stored in a database in order to determine the possible place of residence of the perpetrator.

The results of the investigation indicate a high probability that Banksy is actually Robin Gunningham from Bristol."

In London in particular, the addresses of Gunningham's wife, Joy Millward , fell into the highest probability ranges, with the Old Street address having a remarkably low HS% of 0.7 percent. This means that a search strategy informed by the geoprofile would pinpoint this location almost immediately.

These results support the theory that Robin Gunningham is the person behind Banksy. The spatial patterns suggest Banksy's activity was closely tied to his personal and family geographic anchor points, employing a commuting strategy between his home city of Bristol and the main activity hub of London. The authors of the study themselves stated that the analysis supports the theory, although they could not draw an absolute conclusion due to the lack of other serious "suspects."

The legal reaction and its implications

The credibility of Gunningham's thesis was subsequently strengthened by the reaction of Banksy's legal counsel. The planned publication of the QMUL study in the Journal of Spatial Science in 2016 was blocked after Banksy's lawyers intervened (see Artlyst * ).

Banksy's legal team contacted QMUL staff with concerns about the nature of the publication and, in particular, the wording of a press release, which was subsequently withdrawn. Such an aggressive legal response to a purely academic and statistical analysis is a strong indication that the study made a compelling, forensic connection.

If the investigation had no relevance, a legal defence would probably have been unnecessary. The intervention signalled that the statistical correlation was perceived as a direct threat to anonymity.

Gunningham already suspected in 2008 as Banksy

Already in 2008 the tabloid "Mail on Sunday" that Robin Gunningham is the man behind the name Banksy. Now profiling software has identified addresses and places that are connected to Gunningham and can also be linked to Banksy.

At that time, the "Mail" carried out a one-year research project and spoke to dozens of people, including friends, former colleagues, enemies, roommates and nearby relatives of Banksy. The starting point of the examinations was a photo that Banksy should show at work on the Caribbean island of Jamaica.

It shows a man with dark curls who kneels and has a spray can and a template in front of him while wearing a dark blue shirt.

Peter Dean Rickards , who came up with the moment, confirmed that it was Banksy after he had the pictures leaked to the press - however, this was never officially proven.

He is said to have overturned with the artist. "Banksy hiked through Jamaica as if the country belonged to him ," he told the Evening Standard .

The Sun the man who claimed to know Banksy confirmed that the picture showed Mr. Gunningham.

However, Banksy claimed not to be the man in the photo, and Gunningham's environment was not very cooperative. Even his alleged parents are said to have denied him. In view of Banksy's long -term success in blurring his traces, it is possible that the trace that followed the "mail" was a diversion maneuver, according to the authors of the article from 2008.

However, the investigation was postponed after Banksy's lawyers contacted the university and expressed concerns how the study entitled "Tagging Banksy" could be used in the press.

Neither Gunningham nor Banksy or his representatives have ever publicly commented on this theory to confirm or deny them.

Early information from the years around the turn of the millennium

According to the descriptions of The Sun Luke Egan in Easton, Bristol in 1998 At that time, Banksy created the famous mild mild west sign, which shows a stuffed bear with a Molotow cocktail.

The work of art was placed on a wall opposite Subway Records in Stokes Croft, Easton. While Banksy's art moved to London in 2000, Gunningham resided in an apartment in Kingsland Road in Hackney.

Egan's former roommate, an artist colleague, exhibited together with Banksy in Santa's Ghetto, an art shop that was opened in the West End of London in Christmas 2001. In the same year, Banksy organized his first unofficial exhibition in a tunnel in Rivington, SHOREDITCH, where he sprayed twelve works on the white whipped walls.

Egan continued to claim that Mr. Gunningham was not Banksy. He expressed:

I lived together with a man named Robin Gunningham. But at the time he was not [Banksy]. I lived with him a long time ago. I don't think Banksy was nearby at that time anyway. "

Nevertheless, Banksy made a name in a warehouse just a few meters from Gunningham's apartment.

Theory #3: Robert Del Naja

Others have Robert del Naja from Massive Attack as Banksy. graffiti artist himself and has worked in Bristol under the name 3D , which Banksy mentioned as one of his early sources of inspiration.

The theory arose after DJ Goldie allegedly mentioned Banksy's name in a podcast when talking about this street artist (the editorial team Männersache * reported)

He said:

With all the respect for Rob, I think he is a brilliant artist. I think he turned the world of art upside down ”.

The DEL NAJA theory was further supported by a supposed detection of a connection between two incidents in which fresh Banksy works of art occurred in a city in which Massive Attack gave a concert. Nevertheless, del Naja rejected these assumptions in contrast to Gunningham.

Theory #4: Jamie Hewlett

In recent years, other speculations have also been loud that the founder of the Gorillaz , Jamie Hewlett , is possibly the creator of the artistic work.

An anonymous forensic said that documents showed that Hewlett has connections to every company in connection with Banksy. Another indication of this assumption is Hewlet's earlier work for the band's music videos.

Despite these facts, Bany's spokesman has clearly and clearly denied these claims.

Banksy has always been seen over the past few years. Most recently, he was spotted when he was established by his latest work of art in the London underground railway. A passer -by also claimed in 2018 to have discovered him near a recently completed work in Hull.

Despite these encounters, the artist's face always remained hidden and his way of working also remains a mystery. Whether Banksy works alone or uses a team is unclear and leaves room for speculation.

Theory #5: Creative Plurality – the Banksy Collective Theory

Because of the huge volume of work, the geographical dispersion, and the demands for consistent artistic quality, the idea has become established that Banksy is not a single artist, but a well-organized collective or art brand controlled by a small team.

Reasons for a collective

The credibility of this thesis received a boost during the “Better Out Than In” residency in New York in 2013, where a surprisingly large number of works were created in a short period of time.

Such a structure could organize the collective: A central person would be responsible for the conceptual direction and ideas, while a team of executors would physically create the artworks and manage the logistics. This is why Banksy would be able to be active in different locations simultaneously and manage such an immense volume of work.

Design and direction of the documentary film

The 2010 film Exit Through the Gift Shop points to an organizational structure that goes beyond a single street artist.

Demarcation and synthesis

Collective theory serves as the primary framework for unifying the contradictory lines of evidence. It is the most likely explanation for the operational and global execution of Banksy's activities.

It reconciles the forensic findings of the QMUL study , which identify Robin Gunningham as the geographical and thus probably the central artistic origin, with the logistical evidence surrounding Robert Del Naja.

Robin Gunningham is the conceptual mastermind and creative voice of this synthesis, while Robert Del Naja (or similar individuals) provides logistical support and mobility. The consistency in style, political stance, and irony throughout the entire work suggests the existence of a single, yet highly consistent, conceptual voice.

From an individual graffiti artist, Banksy has evolved into a global brand whose anonymity is managed by a team to achieve the greatest possible economic and philosophical benefit.

We have summarized the results of our research for you in a clear infographic using the Google Gemini visualization tool:

BBC podcast published by Banksy in interview excerpt

A newly published BBC podcast is said to provide deeper insights into the truth about a famous artist. The telephone interview from 2005 may reveal the identity of the artist and ends his voice. So the puzzle around the artist is finally solved a bit. The podcast gives hope that the truth about the artist will soon come to light.

We assume that you are the one you pretend, but how can we be safe? ”,

Asks the moderator.

The person who claims to be Banksy answers:

Oh, you have no guarantee at all. "

The conversation with the man, who calls himself a "painter and decorator" and mentions motivation for his guerrilla art

You don't want to get stuck in the same industry all your life, right? "

The artist's employees also comment on the podcast. However, they do not reveal details of identity.

Explosive: Current legal dispute in front of the High Court could reveal the true identity of Banksy

The street artist is currently the focus of a legal conflict that could potentially reveal his identity.

Andrew Gallagher, a size of the rave and graffiti scene, has sued Banksy. Pest Control LTD , which manages the sale of Banksy's works of art, is also involved Although the case is extremely confidential, the court hearing could lead to the secret about Banksy's true identity.

The Guardian, the legal dispute over a work of art of the late Queen Elizabeth II could actually cause Banksy to be forced to reveal its true name.

What happened?

Two art collectors have sued Pest Control because of the broken contract because it refuses to confirm the authenticity of the Monkey Queen . After Nicky Katz and Ray Howsse tried to get an answer for three years, they have lost the patience and have now sued Pest Control for breaking the contract.

They refer to the Pest Control website, on which authenticity certificates are usually issued. Banksy, known for his stencil -based works, likes to refer to himself as "quality vandals" .

One of his most famous works, "Love is in the bin" , was auctioned for over £ 18.5 million. The role of Pest Control on the market for Banksy's works of art is crucial, and an official certificate of authenticity plays a central role in selling its works at top prices.

The role of lobbyist Joy Millward

The well-known parliamentary lobbyist Joy Millward from Great Britain is presumably considered the wife of the street artist Banksy . She made the headlines when her husband Robin Gunningham was charged with the Supreme Court. Despite the prominence of her partner, Millward manages to keep a former Labor Party employee away from the public.

Joy Millward has never spoken about the widespread speculation.

Who is Joy Millward?

The lobbyist from the West Midlands is said to have met Gunningham in 2003 shortly before she started working as a researcher for Labor politician Austin Mitchell. They married in Las Vegas in 2006 and have been married for 17 years.

According to insider information, they live in a remote community and hardly maintain contact with their neighbors.

An informant told The Sun :

Even those with whom they talk to from time to time don't really know who they are. […] Even some family members of Joy was not revealed who her husband is or what he is doing. ”

His identity remains a mystery. But the clues are mounting.

Although some experts believe that they have found indications of true identity, it remains a mystery. The search for the face behind the myth continues, while Banksy's pictures keep initiating new discussions.

One thing is clear: the art world will continue to be fascinated by this artist, this artist or this collective called Banksy. The remarkable works full of social criticism will continue to stimulate us to think, while the creating force behind it remains in the dark at the same time.

It remains uncertain whether we will ever see the artist's true identity revealed. However, it is clear that the clues and signs are mounting. The legal pitfalls, in particular, could prove fatal to the street art icon's anonymity.