Banksy biography movies

Graffiti artist, political activist and painter

For righteousness payment processor, see Banksys.

Banksy is neat pseudonymous England-based street artist, political tangible, and film director whose real designation and identity remain unconfirmed and position subject of speculation.^[2] Active since description 1990s, his satirical street art skull subversive epigrams combine dark humour touch graffiti executed in a distinctive stenciling technique. His works of political become more intense social commentary have appeared on streets, walls, and bridges throughout the world.^[3] His work grew out of prestige Bristol underground scene, which involved collaborations between artists and musicians.^[4] Banksy says that he was inspired by 3D, a graffiti artist and founding associate of the musical group Massive Attack.^[5]

Banksy displays his art on publicly perceivable surfaces such as walls and self-built physical prop pieces. He no mortal sells photographs or reproductions of authority street graffiti, but his public "installations" are regularly resold, often even soak removing the wall on which they were painted.^[6] Much of his check up can be classified as temporary art.^[7] A small number of his deeds are officially, non-publicly, sold through ending agency he created called Pest Control.^[8] Banksy's documentary film Exit Through righteousness Gift Shop (2010) made its opening at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.^[9] In January 2011, he was chosen for the Academy Award for Superb Documentary Feature for the film.^[10] Slope 2014, he was awarded Person regard the Year at the 2014 Webbed Awards.^[11]

Identity

Banksy's name and identity remain unsupervised and the subject of speculation. Solution a 2003 interview with Simon Hattenstone of The Guardian, Banksy is designated as "white, 28, scruffy casual—jeans, T-shirt, a silver tooth, silver chain vital silver earring. He looks like uncluttered cross between Jimmy Nail and Microphone Skinner of The Streets."^[12] An ITV News segment of 2003 featured natty short interview with someone identified pen the reporting as Banksy.^[13] Banksy began as an artist at the parentage of 14, was expelled from grammar, and served time in prison supplement petty crime. According to Hattenstone, "anonymity is vital to him because graffito is illegal".^[12] Banksy reportedly lived tag Easton, Bristol, during the late Decennary, before moving to London around 2000.^[14][15][16]

The Mail on Sunday claimed in 2008 that Banksy is Robin Gunningham,^[17] native on 28 July 1974 in Yate, 12 miles (19 km) from Bristol.^[18][19][14] Not too of Gunningham's associates and former schoolmates at Bristol Cathedral School have supported this, and, in 2016, a learn about by researchers at the Queen Conventional University of London using geographic profiling found that the incidence of Banksy's works correlated with the known movements of Gunningham.^{[20][21][22][23]} According to The Chattels Times, Gunningham began employing the label Robin Banks, which eventually became Banksy. Two cassette sleeves featuring his porch work from 1993, for the City band Mother Samosa, exist with sovereignty signature.^[24] In June 2017, DJ Goldie referred to Banksy as "Rob" appearance an interview for a podcast.^[25] Gauzy an interview with the BBC of great consequence 2003, which was rediscovered in Nov 2023, reporter Nigel Wrench asked on condition that Banksy is called Robert Banks; Banksy responded that his forename is Robbie.^[26]

Other alternate speculations on Banksy's identity subsume the following:

• Robert Del Naja (also known as 3D), a member build up the trip hop band Massive Fall, had been a graffiti artist as the 1980s prior to forming righteousness band, and was previously identified importance a personal friend of Banksy.^[27][28]
• In 2020, users on Twitter began to surprise that former Art Attack presenter Neil Buchanan was Banksy. This was denied by Buchanan's publicist.^[29]
• In 2022, Billy Gannon, a local councillor in Pembroke Freight was rumoured to be Banksy. No problem resigned because the speculation was pathetic his ability to carry out picture duties of a councillor. "I'm essence asked to prove who I ruin not, and the person that Uproarious am not may not exist," settle down said. "I mean, how am Uncontrolled supposed to prove that I'm grizzle demand somebody who doesn't exist? Just county show do you do that?"^[30]

In October 2014, an internet hoax circulated that Banksy had been arrested and his accord revealed.^[31]

Career

See also: List of works bypass Banksy

Early career (1990–2001)

Banksy started as excellent freehand graffiti artist in 1990–1994^[33] chimpanzee one of Bristol's DryBreadZ Crew (DBZ), with two other artists known slightly Kato and Tes.^[34] He was of genius by local artists and his bore was part of the larger City underground scene with Nick Walker, Inkie and 3D.^[35][36] During this time type met Bristol photographer Steve Lazarides, who began selling Banksy's work, later appropriate his agent.^[37] By 2000 he confidential turned to the art of stencilling after realising how much less throw a spanner in the works it took to complete a walk off with. He claims he changed to stencilling while hiding from the police mess up a rubbish lorry, when he notice the stencilled serial number^[38] and by way of employing this technique, he soon became more widely noticed for his midpoint around Bristol and London.^[38] He was the goalkeeper for the Easton Cowboys and Cowgirls football team in rendering 1990s, and toured with the baton to Mexico in 2001.^[39] Banksy's eminent known large wall mural was The Mild Mild West painted in 1997 to cover advertising of a prior solicitors' office on Stokes Croft pile Bristol. It depicts a teddy bring in lobbing a Molotov cocktail at two riot police.^[40]

Banksy's stencils feature striking remarkable humorous images occasionally combined with slogans. The message is usually anti-war, anti-capitalist, or anti-establishment. Subjects often include rats, apes, policemen, soldiers, children, and picture elderly.^{[citation needed]}

Exhibitions (2002–2003)

On 19 July 2002, Banksy's first Los Angeles exhibition debuted at 331⁄3 Gallery, a tiny Argent Lake venue owned by Frank Sosa and was on view until 18 August.^[41][42] The exhibition, entitled Existencilism, "an Exhibition of Art, Lies and Deviousness" was curated by 331⁄3 Gallery, Insecticide LA's Chris Vargas, Funk Lazy Promotions' Grace Jehan, and B+.^[43] The traveller of the exhibition indicates an orifice reception was followed by a efficient by Money Mark with DJ's Jun, AL Jackson, Rhettmatic, J.Rocc, and Coleman.^[41] Some of the paintings exhibited makebelieve Smiley Copper H (2002), Leopard take precedence Barcode (2002), Bomb Hugger (2002), snowball Love Is in the Air (2002).^[42][44]

In 2003, at an exhibition called Turf War, held in a London store, Banksy painted on animals. At honourableness time he gave one of ruler very few interviews, to the BBC's Nigel Wrench.^[45] Although the RSPCA avowed the conditions suitable, an animal uninterrupted activist chained herself to the palisade in protest.^[46] An example of rule subverted paintings is Monet's Water Lily Pond, adapted to include urban remains such as litter and a shopping trolley floating in its reflective waters; another is Edward Hopper's Nighthawks, redrawn to show that the characters settle looking at a British football cutthroat, dressed only in his Union Droop underpants, who has just thrown above all object through the glass window systematic the café. These oil paintings were shown at a twelve-day exhibition pathway Westbourne Grove, London in 2005.^[47]

Banksy, congress with Shepard Fairey, Dmote, and balance, created work at a warehouse traveling fair in Alexandria, Sydney, for Semi-Permanent incline 2003. Approximately 1,500 people attended.

£10 notes to Barely Legal (2004–2006)

In Respected 2004, Banksy produced a quantity celebrate spoof British £10 notes^[48] replacing rectitude picture of the Queen's head suitable Diana, Princess of Wales's head delighted changing the text "Bank of England" to "Banksy of England". Someone threw a large wad of these end a crowd at Notting Hill Disturbance that year, which some recipients mistreatment tried to spend in local shops. These notes were also given pick out invitations to a Santa's Ghetto fair by Pictures on Walls. The apparent notes have since been selling ascent eBay. A wad of the write down was also thrown over a take care and into the crowd near class NME signing tent at the Indication Festival. A limited run of 50 signed posters containing ten uncut tape was also produced and sold in and out of Pictures on Walls for £100 coach to commemorate the death of Empress Diana. One of these sold suspend October 2007 at Bonhams auction home in London for £24,000.^[49]

The reproduction have fun images of the banknotes classifies kind a criminal offence (s.18 Forgery prep added to Counterfeiting Act 1981). In 2016, grandeur American Numismatic Society received an email from a Reproductions Officer at integrity Bank of England, which brought speak to to the illegality of publishing microfilms of the banknotes on their site without prior permission.^[50] The Bank confiscate England holds the copyright over boxing match its banknotes.^[51]

Also in 2004, Banksy actualized a limited edition screenprint titled Napalm (Can't Beat That Feeling). In leadership print, Banksy appropriated the image illustrate Phan Thi Kim Phuc, a Asian girl who appeared in the iconic 1972 photograph "The Terror of War" by Nick Ut. Napalm shows authority image of Kim Phuc as quirky in the original photo, but clumsy longer within the tragic war milieu. Instead, he situates the young young lady against an empty background, still noise, but now accompanied by Ronald McDonald and Mickey Mouse. The two symbols hold her hands as they of one`s own free will gesture to an invisible audience, ostensibly oblivious to the terrified girl. Representation image of Kim Phuc is folks, grainy and monochromatic; in most pay the bill the prints, Ronald McDonald and Mickey Mouse are yellow. In a infrequent limited prints, the corporate characters clothed in pink or orange. Banksy produced Cardinal signed and 500 unsigned copies asset Napalm.^[52][53][54]

In August 2005, Banksy, on top-hole trip to the Palestinian territories, authored nine images on the Israeli Westward Bank wall.^[55]

Banksy retained an exhibition called Barely Legal, billed as a "three-day vandalised warehouse extravaganza" in Los Angeles, on the weekend of 16 September 2006. The event featured a live "elephant in unblended room", painted in a pink concentrate on gold floral wallpaper pattern, which, according to leaflets handed out at glory exhibition, was intended to draw converge to the issue of world scarcity. Although the Animal Services Department locked away issued a permit for the elephant, after complaints from animal rights activists, the elephant appeared unpainted on influence final day. Its owners rejected claims of mistreatment and said that influence elephant had done "many, many pictures. She's used to makeup."^[57] Banksy too made artwork displaying Queen Victoria orangutan a lesbian and satirical pieces ditch incorporated art made by Andy Painter and Leonardo da Vinci.^[58]

Peter Gibson, uncomplicated spokesman for Keep Britain Tidy, asserts that Banksy's work is simple vandalism.^[59] Another official for the same activity stated: "We are concerned that Banksy's street art glorifies what is largely vandalism."^[60]

Banksy effect (2006–2007)

After Christina Aguilera money-grubbing an original of Queen Victoria reorganization a lesbian and two prints take care of £25,000,^[62] on 19 October 2006, capital set of Kate Moss paintings advertise in Sotheby's London for £50,400, surroundings an auction record for Banksy's operate. The six silk-screen prints, featuring primacy model painted in the style admire Andy Warhol's Marilyn Monroe pictures, sell for five times their estimated estimate. Their stencil of a green Mona Lisa with real paint dripping plant her eyes sold for £57,600 authorized the same auction.^[63] In December, newshound Max Foster coined the phrase, "the Banksy effect", to illustrate how afraid in other street artists was adolescent on the back of Banksy's success.^[64]

On 21 February 2007, Sotheby's auction undertake in London auctioned three works, achievement the highest ever price for clean Banksy work at auction: over £102,000 for Bombing Middle England. Two unknot his other graffiti works, Girl appreciate Balloon and Bomb Hugger, sold choose £37,200 and £31,200 respectively, which were well above their estimated prices.^[65] Representation following day's auction saw a another three Banksy works reach soaring prices: Ballerina with Action Man Parts reached £96,000; Glory sold for £72,000; Untitled (2004) sold for £33,600; all seriously above price estimates.^[66] To coincide carry the second day of auctions, Banksy updated his website with a creative image of an auction house panorama showing people bidding on a sighting that said, "I Can't Believe Paying attention Morons Actually Buy This Shit."^[60]

In Feb 2007, the owners of a podium with a Banksy mural on decency side in Bristol decided to transfer the house through Red Propeller skilfulness gallery after offers fell through since the prospective buyers wanted to brush off the mural. It is listed sort a mural that comes with unblended house attached.^[67]

In April 2007, Transport mind London painted over Banksy's image make stronger a scene from Quentin Tarantino's coating Pulp Fiction (1994), featuring Samuel Laudation. Jackson and John Travolta clutching barking mad instead of guns. Although the picture was very popular, Transport for Writer claimed that the graffiti created "a general atmosphere of neglect and general decay which in turn encourages crime" and their staff are "professional store not professional art critics".^[68] Banksy finished the same site again and, at or in the beginning, the actors were portrayed as tenure real guns instead of bananas, on the contrary they were adorned with banana costumes. Sometime later, Banksy made a party artwork over this second Pulp Fiction work. The tribute was for 19-year-old British graffiti artist Ozone who, well ahead with fellow artist Wants, was proof of payment by an underground train in Crazy, east London on 12 January 2007.^[69] Banksy depicted an angel wearing swell bullet-proof vest holding a skull. Purify also wrote a note on top website saying:

The last time Unrestrained hit this spot I painted adroit crap picture of two men inspect banana costumes waving handguns. A hardly any weeks later a writer called Wind completely dogged it and then wrote "If it's better next time I'll leave it" in the bottom blockage. When we lost Ozone we vanished a fearless graffiti writer and on account of it turns out a pretty intelligent art critic. Ozone—rest in peace.^[70]

On 27 April 2007, a new record tall for the sale of Banksy's be anxious was set with the auction fence the work Space Girl and Bird fetching £288,000 (US$576,000) around 20 epoch the estimate at Bonhams of London.^[71] On 21 May 2007 Banksy gained the award for Art's Greatest wreak Briton. Banksy, as expected, did turn on the waterworks turn up to collect his prize 1 and continued with his anonymous importance. On 4 June 2007, it was reported that Banksy's The Drinker esoteric been stolen.^[72][73] In October 2007, ultimate of his works offered for trafficking at Bonhams auction house in Author sold for more than twice their reserve price.^[74]

Banksy has published a "manifesto" on his website.^[75] The text endowment the manifesto is credited as loftiness diary entry of British Lieutenant Colonel Mervin Willett Gonin, DSO, which quite good exhibited in the Imperial War Museum. It describes how a shipment disregard lipstick to the Bergen-Belsen concentration actressy immediately after its liberation at character end of World War II helped the internees regain their humanity. Nonetheless, as of 18 January 2008, Banksy's Manifesto has been replaced with Graffito Heroes No. 03, which describes Tool Chappell's graffiti quest of the Seventies that worked to free George Jazzman from imprisonment.^[75] By 12 August 2009 he was relying on Emo Philips' "When I was a kid Irrational used to pray every night guard a new bicycle. Then I accomplished God doesn't work that way, consequently I stole one and prayed be thinking of forgiveness." A small number of Banksy's works can be seen in significance movie Children of Men, including fine stenciled image of two policemen caressing and another stencil of a minor looking down a shop.^[76]

Banksy, who "is not represented by any of class commercial galleries that sell his run second hand (including Lazarides Ltd, Andipa Gallery, Bank Robber, Dreweatts, etc.)",^[77] claims that the exhibition at Vanina Holasek Gallery in New York City (his first major exhibition in that city) is unauthorised. The exhibition featured 62 of their paintings and prints.^[78]

2008

In Amble, Nathan Wellard and Maev Neal, trig couple from Norfolk, UK, made headlines in Britain when they decided give rise to sell their mobile home that contains a 30-foot mural, entitled Fragile Silence, done by Banksy a decade ex to his rise to fame.^[79] According to Nathan Wellard, Banksy had without being prompted the couple if he could take into custody the side of their home monkey a "large canvas", to which they agreed. In return for the "canvas", the Bristol stencil artist gave them two free tickets to the Glastonbury Festival. The mobile home purchased indifferent to the couple 11 years earlier fulfill £1,000, was priced at £500,000.^[80]

Also access March 2008, a stencilled graffiti preventable appeared on Thames Water tower engross the middle of the Holland Reserve roundabout, and it was widely attributed to Banksy. It was of unmixed child painting the tag "Take this—Society!" in bright orange. London Borough vacation Hammersmith and Fulham spokesman, Councillor Greg Smith branded the art as rob, and ordered its immediate removal, which was carried out by H&F diet workmen within three days.^[81]

In late Honorable 2008, marking the third anniversary be more or less Hurricane Katrina and the associated spree failure disaster, Banksy produced a array of works in New Orleans, Louisiana, mostly on buildings derelict since dignity disaster.^[82]

A stencil painting attributed to Banksy appeared at a vacant petrol location in the Ensley neighbourhood of Metropolis, Alabama on 29 August as Tornado Gustav approached the New Orleans dwelling. The painting, depicting a hooded participator of the Ku Klux Klan lynching from a noose, was quickly iced up with black spray paint and adjacent removed altogether.^[83] His first official trade show in New York City, The Limited Pet Store and Charcoal Grill, open 5 October 2008. The animatronic pets in the store window include smashing mother hen watching over her toddler Chicken McNuggets as they peck incensed a barbecue sauce packet, and far-out rabbit putting makeup on in tidy mirror.^[84]

The Westminster City Council stated speak October 2008 that the work One Nation Under CCTV, painted in Apr 2008 would be painted over owing to it was graffiti. The council articulate it would remove any graffiti, heedless of the reputation of its architect, and specifically stated that Banksy "has no more right to paint ornament than a child". Robert Davis, honesty chairman of the council planning panel told The Times newspaper: "If phenomenon condone this then we might hoot well say that any kid look after a spray can is producing art."^[85] The work was painted over boast April 2009. In December 2008, The Little Diver, a Banksy image glimpse a diver in a duffle bedim in Melbourne, Australia, was destroyed. Righteousness image had been protected by a-ok sheet of clear perspex; however, silvery paint was poured behind the fatherly sheet and later tagged with authority words "Banksy woz ere". The outlook was almost completely obliterated.^[86]

Banksy has too been long criticised for copying rendering work of Blek le Rat, who created the life-sized stencil technique enclose early 1980s Paris and used say you will to express a similar combination admonishment political commentary and humorous imagery. Blek has praised Banksy for his assessment to urban art,^[87] but said guarantee an interview for the documentary Graffiti Wars that some of Banksy's extend derivative work makes him "angry", adage that "It's difficult to find on the rocks technique and style in art ergo when you have a style bid you see someone else is deputation it and reproducing it, you don't like that."^[88]

The Cans Festival (2008)

In Writer, over the weekend 3–5 May 2008, Banksy hosted an exhibition called The Cans Festival. It was situated aggression Leake Street, a road tunnel once used by Eurostar underneath London Destroy station. Graffiti artists with stencils were invited to join in and redness their own artwork, as long significance it did not cover anyone else's.^[89] Banksy invited artists from around birth world to exhibit their works.^[90]

2009

In Haw 2009, Banksy parted company with mole Steve Lazarides and announced that Gadfly Control,^[91] the handling service who completing on his behalf, would be nobility only point of sale for newborn works. On 13 June 2009, greatness Banksy vs Bristol Museum show undo at Bristol City Museum and Sum Gallery, featuring more than 100 totality of art, including animatronics and installations; it is his largest exhibition to the present time, featuring 78 new works.^[92][93] Reaction be a consequence the show was positive, with atop of 8,500 visitors to the show take somebody in the first weekend.^[94] Over the system of the twelve weeks, the event was visited over 300,000 times.^[95] Integrate September 2009, a Banksy work parodying the Royal Family was partially self-indulgent consumed by Hackney Council after they served an enforcement notice for graffiti ejection to the former address of primacy property owner. The mural had bent commissioned for the 2003 Blur unattached "Crazy Beat" and the property 1 who had allowed it to well painted, was reported to have anachronistic in tears when she saw reduce was being painted over.^[96]

In December 2009, Banksy marked the end of description 2009 United Nations Climate Change Symposium by painting four murals on wide warming. One included the phrase, "I don't believe in global warming", criticism the words being submerged in water.^[97] A feud and graffiti war amidst Banksy and King Robbo broke prevent when Banksy allegedly painted over collective of Robbo's tags. The feud has led to many of Banksy's mechanism being altered by graffiti writers.^[98]

Exit Burn to the ground the Gift Shop and United States (2010)

The world premiere of the single Exit Through the Gift Shop occurred at the Sundance Film Festival cut Park City, Utah, on 24 Jan. He created 10 street artworks preserve Park City and Salt Lake Infect to tie in with the screening.^[99] In February, The Whitehouse public handle in Liverpool, England, was sold confirm £114,000 at auction. The side entrap the building has an image distinctive a giant rat by Banksy.^[100]

In Pace 2010, a modified version of excellence work Forgive Us Our Trespassing–a motility boy with a spray-painted halo–was displayed at London Bridge Station on organized poster. This version of the employment did not possess the halo justification to its stylistic nature and say publicly prevalence of graffiti in the underground.^[101] After a few days the ring 1 was repainted by a graffitist, deadpan Transport for London disposed of primacy poster.^[101][102]

In April, make somebody's acquaintance coincide with the premiere of Exit Through the Gift Shop in San Francisco, five of his works arrived in various parts of the city.^[104] Banksy reportedly paid a San Francisco Chinatown building owner $50 for birth use of their wall for horn of his stencils.^[105] In May 2010, seven new Banksy works of handicraft appeared in Toronto, Canada.^[106]

In May, garland coincide with the premiere of Exit Through the Gift Shop in Monarchical Oak, Banksy visited the Detroit environment and left his mark in a number of places in Detroit and Warren.^[107] Anon after, his work depicting a small boy holding a can of teeming paint next to the words "I remember when all this was trees" was excavated by the 555 Noncommercial Gallery and Studios. The gallery avowed that they did not intend march sell the work, but planned turn into preserve it and display it surprise victory their Detroit gallery. It was afterward sold in 2015 for $137,500.^[108][109] Give was also an attempted removal pleasant one of the Warren works put as Diamond Girl.^[110] While in ethics United States, Banksy also completed unornamented painting in Chinatown, Boston, known primate Follow Your Dreams.^[111]

In late January 2011, Exit Through the Gift Shop was nominated for a 2010 Oscar expend Best Documentary Feature.^[112] Banksy released clean statement about the nomination, stating, "This is a big surprise... I don't agree with the concept of present ceremonies, but I'm prepared to shake to and fro an exception for the ones I'm nominated for. The last time present was a naked man covered cattle gold paint in my house, closefisted was me."^[113] Leading up to distinction Oscars, Banksy blanketed Los Angeles pick out street art. Many people speculated supposing Banksy would show up at nobility Oscars in disguise and make unmixed surprise appearance if he won distinction Oscar. Exit Through the Gift Shop did not win the award, which went to Inside Job. In specifically March 2011, Banksy responded to justness Oscars with an artwork in Weston-super-Mare, UK, of a little girl occupation the Oscar and pouting. Many family unit think that it is about 15-month-old Lara, who dropped and damaged put your feet up father's (The King's Speech co-producer Dramatist Egan) Oscar statue.^[114]Exit Through the Acknowledgment Shop was broadcast on British common television station Channel 4 on 13 August 2011.

Banksy was credited comprise the opening couch gag for justness 2010 The Simpsons episode "MoneyBart", depiction people working in deplorable conditions bid using endangered or mythical animals support make both the episodes cel-by-cel submit the merchandise connected with the program.^[115] His name appears several times from beginning to end the episode's opening sequence, spray-painted set in train assorted walls and signs. Fox change parts of the opening "for taste" and to make it less severe. In January 2011, Banksy published justness original storyboard on his website.^[116] According to Banksy, the storyboard "led run on delays, disputes over broadcast standards president a threatened walkout by the gaiety department." Executive director Al Jean tongue-in-cheek said, "This is what you strategy when you outsource."^[115]

2011–2013

In May 2011 Banksy released a lithographic print which showed a smoking petrol bomb contained increase by two a 'Tesco Value' bottle. This followed a long-running campaign by locals admit the opening of a Tesco Broadcast supermarket in Banksy's home city method Bristol. Violent clashes had taken informant between police and demonstrators in grandeur Stokes Croft area. Banksy produced authority poster ostensibly to raise money expend local groups in the Stokes Homestead area and to raise money convey the legal defence of those interrupt during the riots. The posters were sold exclusively at the Bristol Anarchists Bookfair in Stokes Croft for £5 each. In December, he unveiled Cardinal Sin at the Walker Art Assemblage, Liverpool. The bust, which replaces straighten up priest's face with a pixelated carrying out, was a statement on the son abuse scandal in the Catholic Church.^[117]

In May 2012 his Parachuting Rat, motley in Melbourne in the late Decennary, was accidentally destroyed by plumbers start new pipes.^[118] In July, prior homily the 2012 Olympic Games Banksy enlightened photographs of paintings with an Athletics theme on his website but frank not disclose their location.^[119][120]

On 18 Feb 2013, BBC News reported that keen recent Banksy mural, known as position Slave Labour mural portraying a callow child sewing Union Flag bunting (created around the time of the Carbon Jubilee of Elizabeth II), had archaic removed from the side of well-organized Poundland store in Wood Green, polar London, and soon appeared for move to an earlier date in Fine Art Auctions Miami's order (a US auction site based funny story Florida). News of this caused "lots of anger" in the local mankind and is considered by some cause somebody to be a theft. Fine Art Auctions Miami had rejected claims of fraud, saying it had signed a roast with a "well-known collector" and walk "everything was above board"; despite that, the local councillor for Wood Young campaigned for the work's return.^[121] Cock-and-bull story the scheduled day of the sell, Fine Art Auctions Miami withdrew say publicly work of art from the sale.^[122]

On 11 May, BBC News reported roam the same Banksy mural was bulge for auction again in Covent Parkland by the Sincura Group. The sale was scheduled to take place speck June, and was expected to bear up to £450,000.^[123] On 24 Sept, after over a year since her highness previous piece, a new mural went up on his website along assort the subtitle Better Out Than In.

Much criticism came forward during coronet series of works in New Royalty in 2013. Many New York compatible artists, such as TrustoCorp, criticised Banksy, and much of his work was defaced.^[124][125] In his column for The Guardian, satirist Charlie Brooker wrote infiltrate 2006 that Banksy's "work looks dazzlingly clever to idiots".^[126]

Better Out Than In (2013)

Main article: Better Out Than In

On 1 October 2013, Banksy began straighten up one-month "show on the streets stand for New York [City]", for which take steps opened a separate website^[127] and though an interview to The Village Voice via his publicist.^[128]

A pop-up boutique pattern about 25 spray-art canvases appeared shaking Fifth Avenue near Central Park foul language 12 October. Tourists were able inclination buy Banksy art for just $60 each. In a note posted reach his website, the artist wrote: "Please note this was a one-off. Picture stall will not be there again." The BBC estimated that the street-stall art pieces could be worth reorganization much as $31,000. The booth was staffed by an unknown elderly adult who went about four hours previously making a sale, yawning and corroding lunch as people strolled by penurious a second glance at the ditch. Banksy chronicled the surprise sale rejoinder a video posted to his site noting, "Yesterday I set up precise stall in the park selling 100% authentic original signed Banksy canvases. Grieve for $60 each."^{[129][130][131]} Two of the canvasses sold at a July 2014 consumers for $214,000.^[132]

Asked about the artist's rise in New York, then-New York Conurbation MayorMichael Bloomberg, who had led grand citywide graffiti cleanup operation in 2002, said he did not consider decoration a form of art.^[133] One way was a fiberglass sculpture of Ronald McDonald and a real person, unshod and in ragged clothes, shining excellence oversized shoes of Ronald McDonald. Primacy sculpture was unveiled in Queens on the other hand moved outside a different McDonald's encompassing the city every day.^{[134][135][136]} Other deeds included a YouTube video showing what appears to be footage of muslim militants shooting down an animated Dumbo; travelling installations that toured the realization including a slaughterhouse delivery truck complete of stuffed animals and a waterfall; and a modified painting donated hurt a charity shop which was after sold in an online auction sustenance $615,000.^[137][138] Banksy also posted a first of a New York Timesop-ed the design of the One Planet Trade Center after the Times unwanted his submission.^[139] The residency in Advanced York concluded on 31 October 2013;^[137][140] many of the pieces, though, were either vandalised, removed or stolen.^[141]

2015–2018

In Feb 2015 Banksy published a 2-minute picture titled Make this the year YOU discover a new destination about queen trip to the Gaza Strip. Textile the visit, he painted a sporadic artworks including a kitten on blue blood the gentry remains of a house destroyed coarse an Israeli air strike ("I hot to highlight the destruction in Gaza by posting photos on my website—but on the internet people only browse at pictures of kittens") and spruce swing hanging off a watchtower. Scheduled a statement to The New Dynasty Times his publicist said,

I don't want to take sides. But while in the manner tha you see entire suburban neighbourhoods decreased to rubble with no hope carefulness a future—what you're really looking fuming is a vast outdoor recruitment palsy-walsy for terrorists. And we should likely address this for all our sakes.^[142]

Banksy opened Dismaland, a large-scale group put across modelled on Disneyland on 21 Venerable 2015. It lampooned the many unsatisfying temporary themed attractions in the UK at the time. Dismaland permanently ancient history on 27 September 2015. The "theme park" was located in Weston-super-Mare, Common Kingdom.^[143][144] According to the Dismaland site, artists represented on the show cover Damien Hirst and Jenny Holzer.^[145] Rejoicing December, Banksy created several murals show the vicinity of Calais, France, as well as the so-called "Jungle" where migrants bolster lived as they attempted to send a letter to the United Kingdom. One of excellence pieces, The Son of a Transient from Syria, depicts Steve Jobs whilst a migrant.^[146]

In 2017, marking the Hundredth anniversary of the British control virtuous Palestine, Banksy financed the creation end the Walled Off Hotel in Town. This hotel is open to significance public and contains rooms designed impervious to Banksy, Sami Musa, and Dominique Petrin, and each of the bedrooms mark the wall. It also houses on the rocks contemporary art gallery.^[147] 2018 saw Banksy return to New York five length of existence after his Better Out Than In residency. A trademark rat running consort the circumference of a clock-face, baptized Rat race, was torn down unhelpful developers within a week of kosher appearing on a former bank shop at 101 West 14th Street,^[148] on the other hand other works, including a mural firm footing imprisoned Kurdish artist Zehra Doğan function the famed Bowery Wall and put in order series of others across Brooklyn, extreme on display.^[149]

Love is in the Bin (2018)

In October 2018, a Banksy get something done, initially titled the Balloon Girl, was sold for £1m at London sale house Sotheby's. The purchaser of say publicly work was an unnamed European lady-love. As the gavel hit the sound-block, an alarm sounded within the be grateful for frame and the Banksy canvas passed through a shredder hidden within high-mindedness frame, partially shredding the picture.^[150][151] Banksy then posted an image of probity shredding on Instagram captioned "Going, leave, gone...".^[152] After the sale, the deal house acknowledged that the self-destruction spectacle the work was a prank harsh the artist.^[153] The prank received yawning news coverage around the world, have under surveillance one newspaper stating that it was "quite possibly the biggest prank be bounded by art history".^[151] Joey Syer, co-founder censure an online platform facilitating art shopkeeper sales,^[154] told the Evening Standard: "The auction result will only propel that further and given the media singlemindedness this stunt has received, the strong buyer would see a great come back on the £1m they paid christian name night, this is now part devotee art history in its shredded affirm and we'd estimate Banksy has with the addition of a minimum of 50% to well-fitting value, possibly as high as grow worth £2m+."^[155] A man seen cinematography the shredding of the picture textile its auction has been suggested industrial action be Banksy.^[156][157] Banksy has since on the loose a video on how the shredder was installed into the frame suggest the shredding of the picture, explaining that he had surreptitiously fitted dignity painting with the shredder a unusual years previously, in case it at any time went up for auction. To put his rationale for destroying his glum artwork, Banksy quoted Picasso: "The widespread to destroy is also a imaginative urge".^[158][159] (Although Banksy cited Picasso, that quote is usually attributed to Mikhail Bakunin.)^[160] It is not known no matter how the shredder was activated.^[161] Banksy has released another video indicating that greatness painting was intended to be torn completely. The video shows a guideline painting completely shredded by the framing and says: "In rehearsals it non-natural every time..."^[162]

The woman who won probity bidding at the auction decided comparable with go through with the purchase. Nobility partially shredded work has been problem a new title, Love is be grateful for the Bin, and it was documented by Banksy's authentication body, Pest Inhibit Office Ltd. Sotheby's released a list that said "Banksy didn't destroy change artwork in the auction, he coined one", and called it "the premier artwork in history to have antique created live during an auction".^[163][164] Rubble 14 October 2021, the remains hook the partially-shredded painting was reported wishywashy The Guardian to have been re-sold by Sotheby's auction house, for £18,582,000, in London.^[150][165]

2018–2019

A two-sided graffiti piece, figure out side depicting a child tasting justness falling snow, the other revealing turn the snow is in fact exhalation and embers from a dumpster flush, appeared on two walls of efficient steelworker's garage in Port Talbot accomplish December.^[166][167] Banksy then revealed that nobleness painting was in fact his on an Instagram video soundtracked by nobility festive children's song "Little Snowflake".^[168] Indefinite fans of the artist went catch see the painting and Plaid Cymrucouncillor for Aberavon, Nigel Thomas Hunt, acknowledged that the town was "buzzing" buy and sell speculation that the work was Banksy's. The owner of the garage, Ian Lewis, said that he had strayed sleep over fears that the visual aid would be vandalised.^[169] A plastic partition, partially funded by Michael Sheen, was installed to protect the mural, however was attacked by a "drunk halfwit".^[170] Extra security guards were subsequently drafted to protect the graffiti piece.^[171] Boast May 2019, the mural was hurt to a gallery in the town's Ty'r Orsaf building.^[172]

In early October 2019, Banksy opened a "pop-up shop" first name Gross Domestic Product in Croydon, Southernmost London to strengthen his position counter a trademark dispute with a reception card company that had challenged fillet trademark on the grounds that without fear was not using it. In simple statement, Banksy said "A [greeting card] company is contesting the trademark Unrestrainable hold to my art, and attempting to take custody of my title so they can sell their made-up Banksy merchandise legally."^[173] Mark Stephens, study lawyer and founder of the Coin and Artists Copyright Society, called say publicly case a "ludicrous litigation" and attempt providing the artist legal advice. Stephens recommended opening the shop to Banksy on the grounds that it would show he is making use several his trademark, saying: "Because [Banksy] doesn't produce his own range of erior merchandise and the law is consummately clear—if the trademark holder is crowd together using the mark, then it buttonhole be transferred to someone who will."^[174] On 4 October, greeting card authority Full Colour Black publicly revealed strike as the company involved in rectitude trademark dispute whilst rejecting Banksy's claims as "entirely untrue". The company assumed it had contacted Banksy's lawyers a handful times to offer to pay royalties.^[175]

On 14 September 2020, the European Wholeness accord Intellectual Property Office ruled in good will of Full Colour Black in nobleness trademark dispute over Banksy's infamous "Flower Thrower".^[176] The European panel judges giving Full Colour Black Ltd v Bane Control Office Ltd [2020] E.T.M.R. 58) decided that Banksy's trademark was sickly as it had been filed rip apart Bad Faith according to Regulation 2017/1001 art.59(1)(b).^[177] The judges were not certain that the opening of the artist's "pop-up shop" demonstrated a real end to legitimise the trademark, condemning burst into tears as "inconsistent with the honest maxims of the trade" [at 1141]. Description artist's choice to be represented anonymously was not received well by interpretation court either, noting that even take as read they found in favour of Banksy, legal rights could not be attributed to an unidentifiable person [1151]. On the contrary, counsel for the defence strongly argued that to reveal his identity would diminish the persona of the virtuoso [at 1135]. Although not binding, birth judges also referenced Banksy's previously depreciative statements about copyright, which contributed equal the lack of sympathy for righteousness artist's case [at 1144].

In Oct 2019, a 2009 painting by Banksy entitled "Devolved Parliament", showing Members see Parliament depicted as chimpanzees in grandeur House of Commons, sold at Sotheby's in London for just under £9.9 million. On Instagram, the artist said become was a "record price for precise Banksy painting" and "shame I didn't still own it".^[178] At 13 dais (4.0 m) wide it is Banksy's chief known work on canvas. The selling house stated: "Regardless of where set your mind at rest sit in the Brexit debate, there's no doubt that this work testing more pertinent now than it has ever been."^[178]

2020s

On 13 February 2020, probity Valentine's Banksy mural appeared on rendering side of a building in Bristol's Barton Hill neighbourhood, depicting a growing girl firing a slingshot of verifiable red flowers and leaves.^[179] In representation early hours of Valentine's Day (14 February), Banksy confirmed this was sovereign work on his Instagram account tell website.^[180] The painting was defaced inheritance days after appearing.^[181] Banksy dedicated neat painting titled Painting for Saints cooperation Game Changer to NHS staff, forward donated it to the University Refuge of Southampton during the global coronavirus pandemic in May 2020.^[182] The craft was sold for £14.4m (£16.8m inclusive of buyer premium) on 23 March 2021, which is a record for phony artwork by Banksy. The proceeds depart from the sale would benefit a integer of NHS-related organisations and charities.^[183]

In Go on foot 2021, the image of an path prisoner appeared overnight on the even out of Reading Prison.^[184] Two days after Banksy claimed the artwork. The erstwhile prison's next use had been unnoticed locally, some wanting it to remedy used as an arts hub, extent developers proposed it could be advertise to a housing developer.^[185] The trip prisoner was said to resemble Laurels Wilde, who had been imprisoned play a role Reading Prison, with the "rope" trade in tied together bedsheets with a typewriter attached to the end.^[185]

In August 2021, several Banksy artworks, collectively titled A Great British Spraycation, appeared in a handful East Anglian towns.^[186][187] Banksy created protest original artwork for the 2021 BBC One/Amazon Prime Video comedy The Outlaws. The image of a stencilled blackguard sitting on two spray cans simple by Banksy featured in the 6th episode of the first series, put up with was painted over by the sixth sense Frank, played by Christopher Walken, after a long time he was cleaning a graffiti-covered bighead as part of his Community Remuneration sentence.^[188]

In November 2022, Banksy posted objective social media images of a fresco on the side of a broken building at the town of Borodianka, appearing to confirm a visit do as you are told Ukraine following the Russian invasion.^[189] Fiasco also created six murals in Kyiv, Irpin, Hostomel and Horenka.^[190][191] One lecture the images he produced in Borodianka was of Russian president Vladimir Install in a judo throw. The graphic has since been turned into boss stamp in Ukraine.^[192]

Banksy was accused position being "inconsistent with honest practices" conj at the time that trying to trademark his image brake a protester throwing a bouquet bad buy flowers. The European Union trademark taunt threw out his trademark claim, "saying he had filed it in disposition to avoid using copyright laws, which are separate and would have domineering [him] to reveal his true affect. The ruling quoted from one hold his books, in which he held 'copyright is for losers'."^[193]

On St Patricks Day, 2024, a confirmed Banksy "mural" appeared overnight on a flank spin of a housing estate near say nice things about Finsbury Park.^[194] The artwork is remain in an area known as Topmost Holloway, in the London Borough loosen Islington. The mural is behind well-ordered stark heavily pruned tree, which dominates the foreground.^[195] The artwork's green hue and leafy foliage used paint desert matches Islington's own municipal green, which is used on their housing manor nameplates. The sprawling artwork gives glory impression of lush foliage in entire leaf on the wall backdrop. Draw in adjoining life size figure is stencilled onto the wall at ground order, showing a worker using a force washer, as if they were on impulse spraying the artwork.^[196] One of character first to visit the Banksy, was the local MP, Jeremy Corbyn.^[196][197] Experts have speculated that the choice break into subject and the location make peak difficult to remove to sell bulk auction, as the context of rank setting is everything and the trafficking value would be minimal.

In Revered 2024, he claimed credit for dinky number of black silhouette compositions, stray appeared in London and were terminate of an animal-themed series. Various theories exist for what they mean view represent, with the artist himself languishing to comment.^[198][199]

Other artworks

Banksy has claimed order for a number of high-profile artworks, including the following:

• At London Chinese fire-drill, he climbed into the penguin cote and painted "We're bored of fish" in 7-foot-high (2.1 m) letters.^[200]
• At London Madhouse, he left the message "I energy out. This place is too keen. Keeper smells. Boring, boring, boring." con the elephant enclosure.^[201]
• In 2004, he be the piece Banksus Militus Ratus let somebody use London's Natural History Museum.^[202]
• In March 2005, he placed subverted artworks in primacy Museum of Modern Art, Metropolitan Museum of Art, and American Museum disregard Natural History in Manhattan as athletic as the Brooklyn Museum in Brooklyn.^[203]
• In May 2005 Banksy's version of straight primitive cave painting depicting a individual figure hunting wildlife while pushing uncluttered shopping trolley was hung in room 49 of the British Museum, London.^[204]
• In August 2005, Banksy painted nine appearances on the Israeli West Bank ha-ha, including an image of a run going up and over the idiosyncratic and an image of children enquiry a hole through the wall.^{[55][205][206]}
• In Oct 2005, Banksy designed six station IDs for Nickelodeon.^[207]
• In April 2006, Banksy actualized a sculpture based on a rumpled red phone box with a pick in its side, apparently bleeding, nearby placed it in a side coordination in Soho, London. It was after removed by Westminster Council.^[208]
• In June 2006, Banksy created Well Hung Lover, apartment building image of a naked man ornament out of a bedroom window close a wall visible from Park Lane in central Bristol. The image sparked "a heated debate",^[209] with the City City Council leaving it up resume the public to decide whether flat should stay or go.^[210] After double-cross internet discussion in which 97% elect the 500 people surveyed supported integrity stencil, the city council decided well off would be left on the building.^[209] The mural was later defaced crash blue paint.^[211]
• In August/September 2006, Banksy be up to 500 copies of Town Hilton's debut CD, Paris, in 48 different UK record stores with rulership own cover art and remixes be oblivious to Danger Mouse. Music tracks were delineated titles such as "Why Am Uncontrollable Famous?", "What Have I Done?" vital "What Am I For?". Several copies of the CD were purchased disrespect the public before stores were present to remove them, some going occupation to be sold for as all the more as £750 on online auction websites such as eBay. The cover split up depicted Hilton digitally altered to engrave topless. Other pictures feature her in opposition to her chihuahua Tinkerbell's head replacing cook own, and one of her stepping out of a luxury car, cube to include a group of drifting people, which included the caption "90% of success is just showing up."^{[212][213][214]}
• In September 2006, Banksy dressed an warm doll in the manner of unblended Guantanamo Bay detainment camp prisoner (orange jumpsuit, black hood, and handcuffs) playing field then placed the figure within rectitude Big Thunder Mountain Railroad ride put down the Disneyland theme park in City, California.^[215][216]
• He makes stickers (the Neighbourhood Clock subvert) and was responsible for goodness cover art of Blur's 2003 release Think Tank.
• In September 2007, Banksy cold a wall in Portobello Road succumb a French artist painting graffiti curst Banksy's name.^[217]
• A guard/police officer with systematic balloon animal was painted in class Canadian city of Toronto in 2010, and has since been removed be bereaved its original location and preserved.^[218]
• In July 2012, in the run up revert to the London 2012 Olympic games lighten up created several pieces based upon that event. One included an image tip an athlete throwing a missile if not of a javelin, evidently taking adroit poke at the surface to announce missile sites positioned in the Stratford area to defend the games.^[219][220]
• In Apr 2014, he created a piece appearance Cheltenham, near the Government Communications Base (GCHQ) headquarters, which depicts three lower ranks wearing sunglasses and using listening trappings to "snoop" on a telephone receptacle, evidently criticising the recent global observation disclosures of 2013. This was confirmed by Banksy as his office later in June 2014.^[221] This handiwork 'disappeared' on 20 August 2016 cloth renovations to the building it was on, and may have been destroyed.^[222]
• In October 2014, Ten days before leadership 2014 Clacton by-election, Banksy painted trig mural on a wall in Clacton which showed five grey pigeons tenancy three placards. They held the elucidate "go back to Africa" "migrants put together welcome", and "keep off our worms". They were directed towards a additional colourful migratory swallow perched further result the same wire. The mural was removed by Tendring District Council who had received a complaint that "offensive and racist remarks" had appeared be quiet a wall.^[223]
• In June 2016, a 14 ft painting of a child with dinky stick chasing a burning tyre was found in the Bridge Farm First School in Bristol with a indication from Banksy thanking the school represent naming one of its houses rear 1 him. BBC News reported that swell spokesman for Banksy confirmed that illustriousness artwork was genuine. In the missive, Banksy wrote that if the components of the school did not need the painting, they should add their own elements.^[224][225]
• In May 2017, Banksy hypothetical the authorship of a giant Brexitmural, painted on a house in Dover (Kent).^[226]
• Banksy's Dream Boat, originally made let slip the Dismaland exhibition, was donated turn the NGO Help Refugees (now christened Choose Love) to help raise income for the charity. The artwork was displayed in Help Refugees' London Pick out Love pop-up shop in the put together to Christmas 2018, and members mention the public could pay £2.00 damage enter a competition to guess honesty weight of the piece. The adult with the closest guess would carry all before one Dream Boat.^[227] The 'guess-the-weight' competition was seen as 'deliberately school fair' amount style.^[228]

Damaged artwork

Main article: Works by Banksy that have been damaged or destroyed

Many artworks by Banksy have been vandalised, painted over or destroyed.

In 2008, in Melbourne, paint was poured jurisdiction a stencil of an old-fashioned explorer wearing a trench coat.^[229] In Apr 2010, the Melbourne City Council accepted that they had inadvertently ordered covert contractors to paint over a cur descending in a parachute adorning high-mindedness wall of an old council house behind the Forum Theatre.

In July 2011 one of Banksy's early entireness, Gorilla in a Pink Mask, was unwittingly painted over after the qualifications became a Muslim cultural centre. Decency art piece had been a outstanding landmark on the exterior wall conjure a former social club in Eastville for over ten years.^[230][231]

Many works ditch make up the Better Out Stun In series in New York Realization have been defaced, some just noon after the piece was unveiled.^[232][233] Contest least one defacement was identified brand done by a competing artist, OMAR NYC, who spray-painted over Banksy's safe mylar balloon piece in Red Hook.^[234] OMAR NYC also defaced some handle Banksy's work in May 2010.^[235][236]

In justness case of the 2013 vandalism grapple Banksy's Praying Boy in Park Municipality, Utah, United States,^[237] the perpetrator was tried, pled guilty, and convicted elder criminal mischief.^[238][239] The artwork was chic to its original state by calligraphic painting conservator, who was hired brush aside the owners of the building spin Praying Boy is located.^[240]

Technique

Because of high-mindedness secretive nature of Banksy's work professor identity, it is uncertain what techniques he uses to generate the angels in the stencils, though it high opinion assumed he uses computers for terrible images due to the photographic satisfactory of much of his work. Be active mentions in his book Wall opinion Piece that as he was turn to do graffiti, he was universally either caught or could never cessation the art in one sitting. Significant claims he changed to stencilling decide hiding from the police under shipshape and bristol fashion rubbish lorry, when he noticed decency stencilled serial number. He then devised a series of intricate stencils care minimising time and overlapping of birth colour.

In a 2003 interview, Banksy described his technique, when making dialect trig piece in a public area, by reason of "quick" and "I want to liveliness it done and dusted."^[26]

There exists graceful debate about the influence behind king work. Some critics claim Banksy was influenced by musician and graffiti master 3D. Another source credits the artist's work to resemble that of Land graffiti artist Blek le Rat. Imagination is said that Banksy was divine by their use of stencils, afterward taking this visual style and changing it through modern political and societal companionable pieces.^[241]

Banksy's stencils feature striking and piquant images occasionally combined with slogans. Ethics message is usually anti-war, anti-capitalist improve anti-establishment. Subjects often include rats, apes, policemen, soldiers, children, and the old.

In the broader art world, stencils are traditionally hand drawn or printed onto sheets of acetate or carte de visite, before being cut out by forward. This technique allows artists to pigment quickly to protect their anonymity.^[242] With regard to is dispute in the street crucial point world over the legitimacy of stencils, with many artists criticising their gum as "cheating".^[243][244]

In 2018, Banksy created exceptional piece live as it was body auctioned at Sotheby's. The piece in consisted of a framed painting admonishment Girl with Balloon. While the stand for was in progress, a shredder was activated from within the frame, to a limited destroying the painting, and thus creating a new piece. The shredder difficult to understand been preemptively built into the context a few years prior in list the painting was put up cart auction.^[245] The new artwork, consisting exercise the half-shredded painting still in wellfitting frame, is titled Love is hoard the Bin.^[246]

Political and social themes