About Banksy

Who Is Banksy

Banksy is an anonymous graffiti artist who may have been born in Bristol, England. He is known for his anti-authoritarian art, often done in public places. He came to notice as a freehand graffiti artist. With wry wit and stealth, Banksy merged graffiti art with installation and performance art.

Early Career

Though Banksy’s identity was well guarded, he came to notice as a freehand graffiti artist in 1993. Using stencils since 2000 to enhance his speed, he developed a distinctive iconography of highly recognizable images, such as rats and policemen, that communicated his antiauthoritarian message. With wry wit and stealth, Banksy merged graffiti art with installation and performance.

Banksy at Auction

In late 2018 Girl with Balloon (2006), a canvas version of one of Banksy’s most popular murals, startled onlookers at an auction when the work seemingly self-destructed by partly shredding just after selling for $1.4 million. As speculation about the meaning of the stunt and about the involvement of the auction house erupted on social media, Banksy posted a video claiming credit for the prank.

Samuel Mendiola

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