Buzz
Since making his debut in the early 2000s, Banksy has quickly become one of the most talked-about artists of our time, showcasing his distinct style of art that has garnered both praise and controversy. His work has been spotted worldwide, whether on television, the streets, or even the walls of people's homes. Here are a few captivating tales surrounding this elusive figure.
10. The West Bank Wall
The West Bank Wall is a massive structure that divides Israel from Palestine. Stretching 684 kilometers (425 miles) long, it's three times the size of the Berlin Wall. Given the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and its inherently polarizing nature, the West Bank Barrier stands as one of the most perilous spots on the planet—and in 2005, Banksy left his mark there.
Both Israeli and Palestinian citizens were stunned to find large murals adorning both sides of the wall. Despite the political backdrop, most of Banksy's artwork wasn't as overtly political as many might have anticipated. Some pieces featured expansive windows offering views of idyllic green fields. Others were lighthearted, such as two children climbing over the wall with the help of balloons and ladders. How he managed to accomplish this in such a high-risk area remains a mystery, though Banksy's spokesperson revealed that he narrowly escaped gunfire from security forces multiple times during his work.
9. The Graffiti Battle
Graffiti has existed long before Banksy became a household name, and one of London’s most legendary graffiti artists is a man named Robbo. For reasons unknown, one day Londoners awoke to find that Banksy had altered one of Robbo’s tags—a piece dating back to 1985. Instead of the word 'ROBBO,' the image now depicted a council worker painting the wall black.
This provoked the original artist, who was now in his late thirties or early forties, to emerge from the shadows. Robbo struck back by depicting Banksy’s council worker now painting the words 'KING ROBBO.' Not one to back down, Banksy responded by adding 'FU' before 'KING ROBBO.' The rivalry continued for nearly two years until Robbo suffered a severe head injury that ended his participation. In the end, Banksy acknowledged defeat and replaced his version with Robbo's original tag.
8. The Elephant in the Room
Banksy’s debut exhibition in LA was an overwhelming success, drawing the city's top celebrities. One of the standout pieces at this show was titled 'The Elephant in The Room.' It featured a real Indian elephant that had been completely spray-painted—with non-toxic paint—to match the wallpaper’s pattern. The artwork was meant to symbolize global poverty or something along those lines.
Surprisingly, Banksy managed to get approval for this from LA’s animal services department, which had consulted with the city attorney’s office. When the exhibit took place, many animal rights activists strongly opposed the apparent mistreatment of the elephant, fearing that it may suffer pain and long-term health issues. However, by the time the controversy reached its peak, the exhibit had nearly concluded.
7. Hanksy
Banksy has largely been embraced by the mainstream art world. His works are displayed in galleries, and he even makes the occasional appearance on TV. This level of fame has inspired a number of imitators, one of the most amusing being Hansky.
Hanksy is a street artist based in New York who mimics Banksy’s style, with one major twist—all of his pieces feature the actor Tom Hanks. If Hanksy recreates one of Banksy’s iconic rats, he replaces it with Tom Hanks' face. If he reimagines Banksy’s famous image of a protestor throwing a bouquet of flowers, it's Tom Hanks tossing Wilson the volleyball from Castaway. Hanksy doesn’t stop with just Tom Hanks; his work also includes other famous actors and pop culture figures, which can be explored on his website.
6. Sneaking Art into Galleries
Before Banksy was officially invited to showcase his work in galleries, he had another clever way of getting his art into the public eye—one that would have made the Joker jealous. In 2003, Banksy visited the Tate Britain gallery in London, disguised to blend in. He secretly glued one of his paintings to the wall, where it remained unnoticed for hours until the glue dried and the artwork eventually fell off. The painting depicted a country house surrounded by police tape, accompanied by a note explaining that the country had grown numb to crime due to media sensationalism.
He repeated the same stunt at the British Museum, where he displayed a fake cave painting of a caveman pushing a shopping trolley, with a fabricated sign reading 'This finely preserved example of primitive art dates from the Post-Catatonic era.' The artwork remained unnoticed for two days before being removed. A few years later, Banksy performed a similar act in New York, sneaking his works into the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the American Museum of Natural History, and the Brooklyn Museum.
5. The Paris Hilton Prank
In 2006, Paris Hilton’s debut album hit stores in the UK—but those who were curious enough to buy it were in for an unpleasant surprise. Banksy had secretly inserted 500 altered versions of his own doctored copies throughout the country. 'Shop-dropping' is the term for sneaking unofficial merchandise into stores for unsuspecting customers to buy. In Banksy’s versions, the music was replaced with a simple rhythm and a looping sample of Paris Hilton randomly exclaiming 'That’s hot!' The CD tracklist was also altered, featuring questions like 'Why am I famous?' and 'What am I for?'
The artwork was digitally altered as well. The new cover featured a picture of Paris Hilton baring her breasts, with her iconic face replaced by that of a dog. The inside leaflet showcased Paris stepping out of a limo into a crowd of homeless people, or, alternatively, as a mannequin beneath a sign reading 'Thou shalt not worship false idols.'
4. Selling Prints Worth $30,000 For $60
In October, an elderly man set up a booth in Central Park and started selling Banksy prints for just $60 each. Most passersby ignored him as he sat sipping coffee and snacking on sandwiches, likely assuming the prints were overpriced souvenirs for tourists, especially since Banksy was in the city at the time.
However, the thousands who walked past that day had no idea that each print was an entirely original authentic Banksy, valued at $30,000. By the end of the day, the elderly man had earned less than $500. Unfortunately, Banksy has since stated that there will be no more stalls selling discounted originals, so if you see an old man selling artwork, it’s probably not priceless art.
3. Banksy’s Identity
Despite Banksy’s immense fame, no one really knows for sure who he is—or even if he is actually a ‘he.’ He’s done interviews while wearing a mask, claiming to be a former art student turned painter-decorator. Some suggest there is no individual Banksy, only a collective of artists. Others speculate he could be the alter ego of controversial artist Damien Hirst.
However, there is a more likely suspect. Various news outlets have pointed to Robin Cunningham, a 39-year-old artist who has been seen multiple times near Banksy’s works, typically just before they are installed. He’s often carrying spray paint or assisting with scaffolding. Neither Banksy’s team nor Cunningham have confirmed or denied these rumors, leaving us to continue guessing.
2. Ronald McDonald And The Shoeshine Man
In one of his latest works, Banksy takes aim at the McDonald’s corporation. A massive sculpture of Ronald McDonald, with a fierce scowl and oversized shoes, toured New York, moving from one McDonald’s to the next, accompanied each day by a scruffy, human shoe-shiner. The man, who diligently polished Ronald’s clownish shoes, responded to all inquiries with the phrase, 'Sorry, no English!'
To assist those who couldn’t grasp why a giant Ronald McDonald and a non-English speaking shoe-shiner were roaming New York, Banksy set up an automated 1-800 number to explain the concept. The recording explained that 'Ronald is arguably the most sculpted figure in history after Christ,' and added that the sculpture was 'a critique of the immense labor needed to maintain the polished image of a multinational corporation.'
1. The Stolen Banksys
A significant portion of Banksy’s artwork can be found in public spaces, such as building exteriors, sidewalks, and beneath bridges. This public display makes the art highly vulnerable to theft due to its value. For instance, in a recent theft in Queens, New York, a replica of an Egyptian sphinx crafted from shattered cinder blocks was loaded onto a truck by locals and disappeared. Reports later surfaced that one of the involved individuals had been offered money by a major art gallery to carry out the theft.
Another incident occurred in North London, where thieves removed an artwork directly from a shop wall. They managed to cut away the section of wall where the art had been painted. This piece later resurfaced at an auction, where it was purchased by a private collector in the United States.
The increasing frequency of thefts and vandalism of Banksy’s art has prompted one New York business owner to employ an armed guard to protect a piece displayed on the side of his building. Meanwhile, in the UK, Banksy murals are often shielded by perspex glass to safeguard them from potential thieves or vandals. Ironically, the same teams responsible for protecting the artwork are often the ones tasked with painting over these pieces as part of graffiti removal efforts.
