ARTIST SPOTLIGHT | Banksy

February 5, 2024 – Banksy is a name synonymous with the revolution of street art. Today he is one of the most sought-after artists despite his anonymity. His guerilla murals have helped propelled this fringe artform into a globally recognized movement.

Born in Bristol, England, in what is believed to be in the early 1970s, Banksy rose to prominence in the late 1990s for his stencil-based graffiti art. Banksy’s art gained international acclaim for its thought-provoking themes and clever use of public spaces. In the early 2000s he started to release prints that have since become highly collectible pieces with major investment potential.

Often critical of big businesses, corporations, police and government, Banksy’s work has been found on the sides of buildings, billboards, and city walls worldwide from London to New York, from Jamaica to the Gaza strip. The first piece to really put him on the map was Girl with Balloon in London’s Southbank in 2002. Once he became a household name in the art world, he used this reputation to pull off even bigger stunts such as opening his own hotel and theme park.

He is an artist, activist, and humanitarian using his voice to challenge societal norms and institutions. He has taken on giant corporations such as Disney, McDonald’s and Tesco; he has reworked Leonardo, Monet and Van Gogh. His works have addressed everything from the absurdity of war, to police brutality, social inequality, political tensions, climate change, consumerism, human and animal rights issues, and Brexit.

Despite his anti-establishment ethos, Banksy’s works have entered the art market, with pieces being sold at auctions for substantial sums. He does pull off subversive art-world pranks from time to time that speak to his earlier days as a rogue street artist, for example the infamous shredding of a Balloon Girl canvas at a Sotheby’s auction in 2018.

His identity remains a well-guarded secret—choosing to have his work speak for itself and has continued to surprise his onlookers. Thanks to his success and warm reception, critics and galleries have come to accept and respect graffiti and street artists for the important role they play from a historical art perspective.

Be sure to inquire about available Banksy works at Taglialatella Gallery! View the entire selection here.