Exactly who is Banksy?
The anonymous street artist continues to make his mark on walls and in galleries the world over
If you’re looking for an answer to the headline above then you’re going to be disappointed because the cold hard truth is nobody really knows (and if they do, they’re not sharing his identity anytime soon).
With his real name unknown, “Banksy” is recognised as a famous English graffiti artist who was first noticed when his street art began appearing around his hometown of Bristol in the ‘90s.
His distinctive stencilled style (satirically commenting on politics and the corporate world of big business) was quickly embraced by art lovers and activists alike, especially when his paintings were found at other locations around the world in the 2000s.
This has brought speculation that “he” may be a “they” - a gang of men and women artists working together to proliferate the brand.
It certainly seems to be working. In an auction held in 2008, a piece titled “Keep It Spotless” was sold
for just over £1 million (which is about $2.3 million Australian dollars today).
In the same year, a mobile home that was adorned with a Banksy artwork was suddenly commanding a £500,000 price tag. Anything he touched turned to gold, with many of his works bringing unthinkable numbers.
Famously, at a Sotheby’s auction in 2018, a successful European bidder secured Banksy’s “Girl With Balloon” for £1.04 million, but when the hammer came down so did the artwork - as it was suddenly sheared by a hidden shredder incorporated into the frame by the artist.
It brought gasps of horror from the bewildered crowd, but some speculate Sotheby’s management were even in on the ruse, knowing how “anything Banksy” comes with drama and controversy that is sure to garner media attention across the globe.
And the stunt certainly didn’t disappoint.
Rather than destroy the work, the deliberate act of vandalism by the artist actually increased its worth setting a new auction record of £18.5 million when eventually resold.
As with any subjective art, his methods and subject matter bring plenty of discussion; with some heralding him as a genius - perfectly reflecting the cynicism of the modern world.
Others, however, are more than happy to dismiss his works as nothing more than wanton vandalism. Accordingly, many councils are quick to paint over his art in a crackdown on “mindless damage to public property” and to deter copycat infringements.
Despite plenty of rumours about who he may be, Banksy’s true identity remains a mystery - perfectly playing into the secrecy and mystique of his thought-provoking artworks (and ultimately adding multiple millions to their value as a result).