Buzz
For numerous artists, crafting art is a way to cement their legacy through their name. However, for others, anonymity holds greater value than recognition; they prefer to remain unseen, allowing their creations to convey their message. Banksy, arguably the most renowned anonymous artist, has achieved near-priceless fame, yet many others embrace this path or have simply been forgotten by history.
10. Above
The street artist known as Above is shrouded in mystery, with only a few details known: he is in his mid-twenties and hails from Northern California. He avoids galleries, online sales, and even a fixed residence, likely because much of his art is created and displayed illegally. To experience his work, you’ll need to glance upward. If you’re in one of the over 20 countries he’s visited, you might spot an arrow suspended from a power line, spinning to reveal thought-provoking word pairs like “rise” and “above.” Each visit to a new country involves the installation of hundreds of these signs, leaving his mark in the skies.
In anonymous email interviews, he has shared that his art draws inspiration from the universal struggles of life—overcoming adversity, stress, and personal challenges. This philosophy aligns with his nomadic lifestyle, having spent nearly a decade without a permanent home, traveling across Europe, creating art, and sustaining himself through restaurant work. All his possessions fit into a single backpack. By minimizing expenses that typically anchor people to conventional jobs, Above dedicates himself fully to his craft. As a graffiti artist, he isn’t shy about making bold statements. For instance, while in South Africa, he was commissioned to create a mural that read, “Diamonds are a woman’s best friend.” He agreed but provocatively added, “and man’s worst enemy,” sparking controversy.
9. The Master Of The Playing Cards
The advent of the printing press brought with it the art of engraving, and the 15th century saw the rise of master engravers who elevated printing and books to an art form. One such figure was the “Master of the Playing Cards,” an engraver active in the mid-1400s, believed to have worked near Cologne, Germany. His influence extended beyond his own creations, shaping the works of those who followed him. His techniques, such as his distinctive shading methods, suggest he may have also been a painter. Scholars analyzing his work have noted stylistic parallels to Japanese art, hinting at a broader artistic vision.
The title “Master of the Playing Cards” stems from the significant portion of his surviving works being intricately designed playing cards. Over 70 examples of his engraved cards remain, featuring diverse subjects like people, flowers, birds, deer, and even dragons. His innovative approach included separate plates for illustrations and numbers, allowing for endless combinations during printing. Some motifs from his cards appear in his other works, suggesting he maintained a library of stock images. While most of his engravings were monochrome, one surviving color piece exists—the “Knave of Flowers,” depicting a figure in traditional court attire.
8. Dede
Street art has emerged as a vibrant art form in cities worldwide, and in Tel Aviv, it’s a relatively recent phenomenon. For the anonymous artist Dede, creating art on buildings and walls instead of canvases is a way to maintain the purity of artistic expression, free from the influence of galleries or critics. This medium also allows for the unrestricted communication of ideas that might otherwise be stifled in more conventional settings.
Dede understands that street art now reaches a global audience, thanks to the Internet, allowing people far beyond the local streets to experience his work. This digital preservation contrasts with the transient nature of street art, which is typically dynamic and ever-changing. His graffiti often reflects his experiences, including his time in military service, which he disliked. Dede signs his pieces with his pseudonym and a Band-Aid, a recurring motif in his art. He frequently incorporates symbols of peace, such as white doves, into imagery that resonates with everyday life in Israel.
7. Alec Monopoly
Alec Monopoly, an American graffiti and street artist, began his career in New York City before relocating to Los Angeles. The move was partly influenced by a romantic interest and partly by the abundance of vacant billboards, which served as ideal canvases for his work. His pseudonym is derived from one of his most iconic characters, “Mr. Monopoly,” a symbol of capitalism often portrayed in a critical light. In anonymous interviews, Alec revealed that he uses this character to critique corporate greed and highlight figures such as Bernie Madoff.
Alec first gained widespread attention with a piece featuring Madoff as the central figure, encircled by Monopoly money. This striking image resonated deeply during the onset of the US recession and continues to evoke strong emotions. Fearing opposition in New York City, Alec became increasingly paranoid, even suspecting that his phone was being tapped. However, his move to California has only emboldened him, with his art appearing in affluent neighborhoods like Bel-Air and Beverly Hills—creating a stark contrast between his anti-capitalist message and the wealth of these areas.
6. Philadelphia Wireman
The tale of the Philadelphia Wireman is a poignant one, nearly lost to obscurity in a Philadelphia landfill if not for Robert Leitch. Sometime in the late 1970s or early 1980s (details remain unclear, as Leitch’s involvement wasn’t revealed until after his death), Leitch stumbled upon a large collection of objects left on a curb in a rough neighborhood. Sensing their significance, he loaded them into his car. Upon closer inspection, he discovered 1,200 unique pieces, each consisting of wire-wrapped bundles containing items like pens, coins, nails, food containers, toys, watches, and tools. The wire was thick and heavy, tightly wound around the objects.
Initially, Leitch gave some pieces away, but a friend persuaded him to take the rest to an art gallery. The Fleisher Ollman Gallery now houses many of these works, with some priced as high as $9,000. Pieces have been loaned to galleries worldwide, offering a raw, emotional glimpse into the impoverished neighborhood where they were found. Speculations about the artist include the assumption that they were male, given the strength required to manipulate the thick wire. Beyond this, nothing is known about the artist’s identity, how the collection ended up on the street, or what became of its creator. This enduring mystery only amplifies the power of the works.
5. Black Hand
Known as “Iran’s Banksy,” the Black Hand employs a stenciling technique akin to Banksy’s, allowing for swift execution and reduced risk of detection. The artist is unflinchingly direct, crafting images that convey bold, often controversial messages. Many of these messages are too provocative for traditional galleries, especially given the sensitive nature of some topics. In Iran, where the organ trade is legal, individuals in financial distress openly advertise their willingness to sell organs. A recent piece by Black Hand criticizing this practice was swiftly removed within hours of its appearance.
Interestingly, street art itself isn’t illegal in Iran. The country has a thriving street art scene, but it’s largely state-controlled, requiring government approval. This makes anonymity essential for Black Hand, who continues to produce risky, unsanctioned works. One of his recent pieces gained viral attention for its critique of gender exclusion in sports. It depicted a woman in Iran’s national football jersey, triumphantly holding a trophy—except the trophy was replaced with a bottle of dish soap, her hands clad in rubber gloves.
4. The Master Of The Furies
The enigmatic “Master of the Furies” remained unknown until the 1970s, when Erwin Neumann, a curator at Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum, began collecting exquisitely detailed and lifelike ivory carvings. Through meticulous analysis, Neumann concluded these sculptures were the work of a single artist, whom he named the “Master of the Furies” based on recurring themes in the pieces. Dating back to the early 17th century and likely created in Salzburg, Austria, the carvings are all that remain of this mysterious figure. Many of his works may still be undiscovered, scattered and lost to time.
Art historians have identified 25 pieces attributed to this unnamed 17th-century artist. Each carving is astonishingly detailed, with lifelike qualities reminiscent of ancient Greek art, featuring flowing robes and dynamic poses. The precision of the work is remarkable, with visible muscles, arteries, and veins in the figures’ straining forms. Strands of hair and open-mouthed expressions add to the realism. Experts believe more sculptures by this master may still exist. For instance, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London holds a carving of Adam, believed to have once been paired with a missing Eve.
3. Skid Robot
The most impactful art transforms our perspective, and the work of the anonymous artist known as “Skid Robot” does just that. Based in Los Angeles, Skid Robot doesn’t merely create murals or graffiti—he brings the hopes and dreams of the homeless to life, often integrating the individuals themselves into his art. His Instagram showcases these individuals, their stories, and the artwork he creates around them. Some pieces feature simple dream bubbles depicting a warm meal or a bed, while others depict entire rooms behind the subjects. One particularly poignant piece portrayed a wheelchair-bound homeless man, who had been shot in the back, seated on a throne.
Skid Robot’s mission extends beyond art; he actively supports the homeless community by providing meals and water. One wheelchair-bound man declined food, instead requesting pens and a sketchbook, explaining that art was once his escape. Skid Robot aims to give a voice to the voiceless, allowing their dreams to be seen, even if only on a wall. His work underscores the power of art to raise awareness and inspire change.
2. The Toynbee Tiles
Unlike the work of “Above,” which requires looking skyward, the Toynbee Tiles demand attention to the ground. Since 1985, these license plate-sized tiles have appeared across the Western Hemisphere. Crafted from layers of linoleum, tar paper, and asphalt crack filler, they are initially concealed by the paper, which wears away after the tile is embedded in the road. Approximately 450 tiles have been discovered in the US, Canada, and even South America. Their creator remains unknown, as does their purpose. Each tile features cryptic, poetic phrases, such as “TOYNBEE IDEA / IN MOVIE 2001 / RESURRECT DEAD / ON PLANET JUPITER,” leaving observers puzzled.
Most tiles feature variations of this enigmatic message, suggesting someone is determined to convey a specific idea. The recurring word “Toynbee” has led to their name. Some speculate it refers to British historian Arnold Toynbee, who studied the rise and fall of civilizations. His work examined why certain societal traits are embraced or rejected across cultures, though this does little to clarify the tiles’ meaning. In 2011, the documentary Resurrect Dead: The Mystery of the Toynbee Tiles attempted to unravel the mystery behind the tiles and their elusive creator.
1. Scotland’s Mystery Book Sculptor
In 2011, Edinburgh became the stage for a series of mysterious sculptures delivered to locations tied to literacy, including the Scottish Poetry Library and author Ian Rankin. The first sculpture, discovered in the poetry library, was a meticulously crafted tree made from a book, mounted on another book. Accompanying it was a broken eggshell filled with fragments of the poem “A Trace of Wings.” A tag bearing a cryptic message expressed gratitude, dedicating the piece to “libraries, books, words, ideas.”
The second sculpture appeared at the National Library of Scotland, featuring a coffin and a gramophone crafted from a copy of Ian Rankin’s book. Rankin himself was depicted in the next piece, delivered to the Filmhouse cinema, which showcased a miniature theater with a paper Rankin seated among the audience. In total, 10 intricate book sculptures were distributed to various Scottish institutions, with the 11th gifted directly to Rankin.
The mystery nearly unraveled when a staff member from the Edinburgh Evening News claimed to recognize the artist’s style from a previous purchase. However, instead of revealing the artist’s identity—clearly desiring anonymity—the newspaper conducted a reader poll on whether to disclose the name. Readers voted to protect the artist’s anonymity, and the speculation—whether accurate or not—remained unpublished. The sculptor, identified only as female, continued her work, with additional book sculptures emerging during Book Week Scotland in 2012.
