Banksy is the pseudonym of a “guerrilla” street artist known for his controversial, and often politically themed, stencilled pieces.
Banksy, a street artist whose identity remains unknown, is believed to have been born in Bristol, England, around 1974. He rose to prominence for his provocative stencilled pieces in the late 1990s. Banksy is the subject of a 2010 documentary, Exit Through the Gift Shop, which examines the relationship between commercial and street art.
Banksy began his career as a graffiti artist in the early 1990s, in Bristol’s graffiti gang DryBreadZ Crew. Although his early work was largely freehand, Banksy used stencils on occasion. In the late ’90s, he began using stencils predominantly. His work became more widely recognized around Bristol and in London, as his signature style developed.
Banksy’s artwork is characterized by striking images, often combined with slogans. His work often engages political themes, satirically critiquing war, capitalism, hypocrisy and greed. Common subjects include rats, apes, policemen, members of the royal family, and children. In addition to his two-dimensional work, Banksy is known for his installation artwork. One of the most celebrated of these pieces, which featured a live elephant painted with a Victorian wallpaper pattern, sparked controversy among animal rights activists.
Other pieces have drawn attention for their edgy themes or the boldness of their execution. Banksy’s work on the West Bank barrier, between Israel and Palestine, received significant media attention in 2005. He is also known for his use of copyrighted material and subversion of classic images. An example of this is Banksy’s version of Monet’s famous series of water lilies paintings, adapted by Banksy to include drifting trash and debris.
Banksy’s worldwide fame has transformed his artwork from acts of vandalism to sought-after high art pieces. Journalist Max Foster has referred to the rising prices of graffiti as street art as “the Banksy effect.” Interest in Banksy escalated with the release of the 2010 documentary Exit Through the Gift Shop. The film, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, was nominated for an Academy Award.
In October 2013, Banksy took to the streets of New York City. There he pledged to create a new piece of art for each day of his residency. As he explained to the Village Voice, “The plan is to live here, react to things, see the sights—and paint on them. Some of it will be pretty elaborate, and some will just be a scrawl on a toilet wall.” During that month, he also sold some of his works on the street for $60 a piece, well below the market value for his art.
Banksy’s identity remains unknown, despite intense speculation. The two names most often suggested are Robert Banks and Robin Gunningham. Pictures that surfaced of a man who was supposedly Banksy pointed toward Gunningham, an artist who was born in Bristol in 1973. Gunningham moved to London around 2000, a timeline that correlates with the progression of Banksy’s artwork.
1997 – Lenin Punk – Weston Super Mare
2000 – The Mild Mild West – Bristol
2001 – Gorilla With Pink Mask – Bristol
2002 – Laugh Now – LA
2002 – I’m Out of Bed Rat – LA
2003 – Every Picture Tells A Lie – Berlin
2003 – Rage, Flower Thrower – Jerusalem
2003 – The Grim Reaper – Bristol
2003 – Bomb Hugger – London
2004 – Cut It Out – Palestine
2004 – Consumer Jesus
2004 – Ice Cream Bomb – Brighton
2004 – This Is Not Photo Opportunity – Somerset
2005 – Flying Balloon Girl – Israel
2005 – Nighthawks Forever – London
2005 – Snorting Cocaine – London
2005 – Because I’m Worthless – London
2005 – Dove With Peace – Bethlehem
2005 – Tourist Information – London
2005 – Hitchhiker Anywhere – London
2006 – Naked Man Hanging From Window – Bristol
2006 – Gangsta Rat – London
2006 – Sweep It Under The Carpet – London
2007 – Policeman Searching Girl – Glastonbury
2007 – Gun-toting Clown – Bristol
2007 – Cash Machine Girl – London
2007 – Angel In Bullet Proof Vest – London
2007 – Ariel Flower Girl – Los Angeles
2007 – ATM Girl – London
2007 – Yellow Lines Flower Painters – London
2007 – Mona Lisa Rocket Launcher – London
2007 – Girl With Balloon – London
2008 – One Nation Under CCTV – London
2008 – Let Them Eat Crack – New York
2008 – Injured Buddha – London
2008 – Gorilla Artist – London
2008 – Girl and Mouse – New Orleans
2008 – Bubble Slide Girl – London
2008 – Cave Painting Removal – London
2008 – Abraham Lincoln – New Orleans
2008 – KKK – Alabama
2008 – No Loitering – New Orleans
2009 – Last Graffiti Before Motorway – London
2009 – Ghetto Boy – London
2009 – Steam Roller Traffic Warden – London
2009 – Don’t Forget Your Scarf – Bristol
2009 – I Don’t Believe In Global Warming – London
2009 – Regents Canal Mural – London
2010 – Peaceful Hearts Doctor – San Francisco
2010 – No Trespassing – San Francisco
2010 – Keith Haring Dog – London
2010 – Interest in People – Toronto
2010 – Forgive Our Trespassing – Salt Lake City
2010 – Camera Man and Flower – Utah
2010 – Follow Your Dreams – Boston
2010 – Baby Carriage
2010 – I Remember When This Was All Trees – Detriot
2010 – If At First You Don’t Succeed – San Francisco
2011 – Love Plane – London
2011 – Child Solider- LA
2012 – Slave Labour – London
2012 – Javelin Thrower – London
2013 – Fake Plate Quote – New York
2013 – Graffiti is a crime – New York
2013 – Hammer Boy – New York
2014 – Government Spies Telephone Box – Cheltenham
2014 – Piecered Ear Drum – Bristol
2015 – Steve Jobs – Calais
2016 – Young Girl From Les Miserables – London