Of the numerous feats that Banksy has accomplished over the course of his career as an international artist, activist and filmmaker, perhaps the most astonishing is that while he is among the most famous figures in street art, he has managed to remain completely anonymous.
There is a method behind the madness, however. Banksy maintains that he chooses to conceal his identity to make a more democratic impact with his work, the themes of which include criticism of world leaders, consumerism and terrorism.
Although not much is known about Banksy — he sent a photo of himself with a paper bag on his head to Time magazine for a profile — it is believed that he was born in the city of Bristol, in southwest England, circa 1974. Wit, irreverence, dark humor and activism come together in his work, which spans graffiti, paintings, prints, sculptures and filmmaking. (His film, Exit Through the Gift Shop, which focuses on another street artist known as Mr. Brainwash, was nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the 2010 Academy Awards.)
Banksy began as a graffiti artist in his hometown in the early 1990s. He has found fame for his stenciled and spray-painted pieces, which are most often rooted in anti-war or antiestablishment messaging, appearing in cities such as London, New York and Los Angeles and for his “stunts” that are intended to subvert and provoke the art world. One particularly memorable stunt took place in 2018, when, as soon as one of his paintings sold at auction — Girl with a Balloon, which fetched an extraordinary $1.4 million — it self-destructed and proceeded to partially shred itself. Banksy even snuck into the Louvre and hung his own version of the Mona Lisa in 2006. Despite his elusive persona and commitment to bringing art to the masses, Banksy is one of the most coveted artists at auctions across the world.
And his work is undeniably impactful.
At a record-breaking auction organized by Damien Hirst, Bono and others to benefit AIDS charities in 2008, Banksy’s Keep It Spotless — a modified Hirst painting — fetched nearly $2 million. In May of 2020, Banksy donated Game Changer, a painting that honors UK healthcare workers, to Southampton General Hospital. When it went to auction in 2021, it sold for more than $23 million at Christie's in London. All proceeds went to the National Health Service.
Find original Banksy art for sale on 1stDibs.
$2,950
Welcome Mat
By Banksy
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Banksy (b. 1974) is a pseudonymous street-artist and political activist whose real name and identity remain the subject of speculation. "Welcome Mat" is a sculptural/ephemera work c...
Organic Material
$34,000
H 70 in W 70 in D 10 in
Here today, gone tomorrow - blue-raspberry (outdoor sculpture)
By Tim Berg & Rebekah Myers
Located in Miami Beach, FL
handmade, resin, lacquered wood wall sculpture Available in 5 flavors: blue-raspberry, cherry, lime, orange and grape Our objective is to distill the stereotypical perceptions and a...
Resin, Wood
$34,000
H 70 in W 70 in D 8 in
Here today, gone tomorrow - lime (outdoor sculpture)
By Tim Berg & Rebekah Myers
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Can be installed outdoors Handmade - fiberglas, resin, UV sealed, treated wood Available in 5 flavors: cherry, orange, grape, lime and blue raspberry Things disappear. Sometimes t...
Resin, Fiberglass, Wood
$500
H 5.25 in Dm 5 in
Wounaan Tribe Panama Rainforest Basket, brown, white and black geometric design
Located in Santa Fe, NM
Wounaan Tribe Panama Rainforest Basket, brown, white and black geometric design hand woven palm fiber and vegetal dye Estelina Morales The baskets are made by the Wounaan and Embera...
Organic Material
$3,500
H 73 in W 19.8 in D 2.46 in
Pink Passion - Vintage Al Merrick Epoxy Rideable Surfboard
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Pink Passion - Vintage Al Merrick Epoxy Rideable Surfboard Crafted or branded via Rick Fignetti, a legendary fixture in the Southern California surf scene since the 1980s. Clear acry...
Epoxy Resin, Fiberglass
Remington
By Kollabs
Located in Napa, CA
KOLLABS is a collaborative project between artists Luis Garcia Nerey and Anke Schofield. In their work, they create compositions juxtaposing undomest...
Resin, Panel
$5,200Sale Price|20% Off
H 39 in W 29 in D 2 in
THE FOREVER LOVE ROSE (Original And One Of A Kind Mixed Media Artwork)
By Mauro Oliveira
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
**STORE CLOSURE - UP TO 80% OFF - TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT** ***EVERYTHING MUST GO BY DECEMBER 31ST!*** >>The artist is moving to a new full time venture in 2026<< _______________________________________________________ ***Looking for one of kind precious high ending gift that no one else will have? This is one of them!*** Absolutely and positively one of a kind artwork. Rare metal rose tree embellished frame with original hand drawn and painted rose on wood panel encrusted with 100s of genuine Swarovski crystals. This is to celebrate an anniversary and/or a milestone. EXPRESS your love and caring with the forever rose...
Metal
$675
H 4.75 in W 6.75 in D 5.25 in
Wounaan Tribe Panama Rainforest Basket, gold, black, red geometric hand woven
Located in Santa Fe, NM
Wounaan Tribe Panama Rainforest Basket, gold, black, red geometric hand woven natural dyes The baskets are made by the Wounaan and Embera Indians from the Darien Rainforest in Panam...
Organic Material
Butterfly Basket, Wounaan Tribe, Panama, Rainforest, black, red, green, white
Located in Santa Fe, NM
Butterfly Basket, Wounaan Tribe, Panama, Rainforest, black, red, green, white The baskets are made by the Wounaan and Embera Indians from the Darien ...
Organic Material
Black and White Basket, Wounaan Tribe, Panama, Rainforest, Geometric, Round
Located in Santa Fe, NM
Black and White Basket, Wounaan Tribe, Panama, Rainforest, Geometric, round The baskets are made by the Wounaan and Embera Indians from the Darien Rainfor...
Organic Material
Yellow Hill
By Carl James Ferrero
Located in New York, NY
Oil, wax, and collage on linen Signed and dated, verso This artwork is offered by ClampArt, located in New York City. Carl James Ferrero is an artist whose experimental paintings, ...
Paper, Linen, Wax, Oil
Paradise
By Carl James Ferrero
Located in New York, NY
Oil, wax, and collage on linen Signed and dated, verso This artwork is offered by ClampArt, located in New York City. Carl James Ferrero is an artist whose experimental paintings, ...
Linen, Paper, Wax, Oil
Heliconia plant, basket, Wounaan Tribe, palm fiber, natural dyes, red, black
Located in Santa Fe, NM
Heliconia plant, basket, Wounaan Tribe, palm fiber, natural dyes, red, black The baskets are made by the Wounaan and Embera Indians from the Darien Rainforest in Panama. The Wounaa...
Organic Material
$2,300
H 11.5 in W 11.5 in D 1.25 in
Lumen 4 beige: marquetry abstract geometric work with wheat straw on board
By Marie Laforey
Located in New York, NY
Marie Laforey is a self-taught artist based in New York, US who maintains a sustainable art practice using primarily organic material. Laforey enjoys the tactility of working with or...
Organic Material, Wood Panel
$2,300
H 11.5 in W 11.5 in D 1.25 in
Lumen 3 Navy Blue: marquetry abstract geometric work with wheat straw on board
By Marie Laforey
Located in New York, NY
Marie Laforey is a self-taught artist based in New York, US who maintains a sustainable art practice using primarily organic material. Laforey enjoys the tactility of working with or...
Organic Material, Wood Panel
$2,200
H 6.5 in W 7.75 in
Black and White Geometric Basket, Panama, Rainforest, Wounaan Tribe, Contemporary
Located in Santa Fe, NM
Black and White Geometric Basket, Panama, Rainforest, Wounaan Tribe,Contemporary The baskets are made by the Wounaan and Embera Indians from the Darien Ra...
Organic Material
Sold
H 25 in W 25 in D 4.5 in
The Walled Off Hotel Box Set from 2017 by Banksy Palestine Contemporary Street
By Banksy
Located in Draper, UT
The Walled Off Hotel Box Set 2017. From the hotel designed by Banksy. Digital screenprint with concrete wall piece. Comes with Certificate Of Authenticity from The Walled Off Hotel. ...
Concrete
Sold
H 2.875 in W 5.6 in
Banksy Di-Faced Tenner: SET of TWO framed works (Banksy 10 pound bank note)
By Banksy
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Banksy Di-Faced Tenner (Banksy 10 pound note): Set of 2 works (framed): A set of two individual notes, framed transparently on front & reverse. Published by ...
Lithograph, Offset
Palestine HOPE Wall
By Banksy
Located in New York, NY
Banksy Palestine HOPE Wall, 2017 Painted Cast Resin with separate concrete block base. Unique variant of an unknown or open edition. 5 1/4 × 5 × 3 1/2 inches This sculpture depicts a...
Concrete
Banksy, Peckham Rock
By Banksy
Located in Manchester, GB
Banksy, Peckham Rock, 2018 Wooden postcard Open edition 12 x 18 cm Banksy is a contemporary British street artist and activist who, despite his int...
Wood
Banksy - Walled Off Hotel, Box Set
By Banksy
Located in BRUCE, ACT
Banksy -- Walled Off Hotel, Box Set From the hotel designed by Banksy. Digital print with concrete wall piece. Comes with the receipt. The editio...
Mixed Media
Banksy Di-Faced Tenner (Banksy 10 pound bank note)
By Banksy
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Banksy Di-Faced Tenner: Published by Santa's Ghetto, London, for the 2004 Banksy exhibition - Banksy also made a whole briefcase full of these historic, and much fabled 10 pound 'bank notes...
Lithograph, Offset
Banksy Box Set "Walled Off Hotel" #2715
By Banksy
Located in Draper, UT
Walled Off Hotelm Box Set 2019. From the hotel designed by Banksy. Digital print with concrete wall piece. Comes with Certificate Of Authenticity from the Walled Off Hotel. Also inc...
Cast Stone
Di-Faced Tenner
By Banksy
Located in Dallas, TX
Bansky Di-Faced Tenner Spray Paint and Stencil on Genuine 10 Pound Bank Note 3 x 6 Bansky almost got in trouble with the British secret service for making these. They were so well ...
Spray Paint, Tissue Paper, Stencil
Banksy Di-Faced Tenner (Banksy 10 pound bank note)
By Banksy
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Banksy Di-Faced Tenner: Published by Santa's Ghetto, London, for the 2004 Banksy exhibition - Banksy also made a whole briefcase full of these historic, and much fabled 10 pound 'bank notes...
Lithograph, Offset
Banksy Di-Faced Tenner (Banksy 10 pound bank note)
By Banksy
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Banksy Di-Faced Tenner: Published by Santa's Ghetto, London, for the 2004 Banksy exhibition - Banksy also made a whole briefcase full of these historic, and much fabled 10 pound 'bank notes...
Lithograph, Offset
Sold
H 8 in W 7 in
Banksy Walled Off Hotel Sculpture Iconic Flower Thrower Tower Palestine Urban
By Banksy
Located in Draper, UT
In 2017 & 2019 I traveled to the Walled Off Hotel in Palestine and had the time of my life. I highly recommend going as it was an amazing experience to see Banksy Originals...
Stone, Cast Stone, Steel
Sold
H 25 in W 25 in
Walled Off Hotel Box Set 2017 Box Framed With Different Colored Rocks Unique WOH
By Banksy
Located in Draper, UT
Walled Off Hotel Box Set 2017 Medium Print Condition Acquired from the Walled Off Hotel, with the original receipt. Note, this is not signed o...
Cast Stone
Banksy Peckham rock
By Banksy
Located in Saint-Didier, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Banksy Peckham rock Official edition on wood in partnership with the pest control office of the fake prehistoric painting made by Banksy and exhibited in the museum . Circa 2005 18 x...
Wood
Banksy - "Visit historic Palestine"
By Banksy
Located in Winterswijk, NL
Banksy - "Visit historic Palestine". This poster was created by Banksy exclusively for the Walled Off Hotel. It is available exclusively at t...
Lithograph
Banksy Peckham rock
By Banksy
Located in Saint-Didier, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Banksy Peckham rock Official edition on wood in partnership with the pest control office of the fake prehistoric painting made by Banksy and exhibited in ...
Wood