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.
Banksy Dismaland Official Program Book, Street Art Souvenir, 2015
By Banksy
Located in Englishtown, NJ
Very collectible souvenir book, Banksy’s Dismaland Official Program. Dismaland was an amusement park like setting art show conceived and curated by Banksy in Weston Super Mare. It ha...
Magazine Paper
$600
H 11 in W 17 in
Sarah's Cameras Photograph, Black and White, Signed, 11x17, 2010-
Located in New York, NY
Matthew Eller - Sarahs Camera Photograph 11 x 17 with 1-inch border Signed by photographer Matthew A. Eller and the model Sarah Emily.
Photographic Paper
"Caveman" - Limited Edition Fine Art Print
By Plastic Jesus
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This entire series was inspired by a piece of graffiti by the street artist Banksy in the UK. Nick Stern - who ironically has been called the Banksy of Los Angeles and goes by the street name "Plastic Jesus" -decided to set himself the challenge to recreate the original Banksy...
Archival Paper
$525
H 16 in W 20 in
"Jesus with Shopping Bags" - Limited Edition Fine Art Print
By Plastic Jesus
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This entire series was inspired by a piece of graffiti by the street artist Banksy in the UK. Nick Stern - who ironically has been called the Banksy of Los Angeles and goes by the street name "Plastic Jesus" -decided to set himself the challenge to recreate the original Banksy...
Archival Paper
$6,500
H 40 in W 60 in
Ocean Drive Miami Beach Hotels South Beach, Color Photography, Mitchell Funk
By Mitchell Funk
Located in Miami, FL
Quintessential South Beach's Ocean Drive image where neon lights of the street merge with nature's lights in the sky. The resulting image of moody magentas and radiant blues is an ...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Inkjet
Burned Out Series III Patria Vida 45 x 59
By William Finlayson Jr.
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
1/10 One out of a series of Ten signed and numbered Photos mounted on non glare Plexiglass with a wood frame on back to hang floated on wall. Born in Tallahasee Fl, William started...
Plexiglass, Photographic Paper
$185,000
H 40 in W 60 in
Black Hippie with Blond Afro, Washington Square Park - Henri Ghent Black Curator
By Mitchell Funk
Located in Miami, FL
In 1969, weekends at Bethesda Fountain were a gathering place for the radical, glamorous, and hip people of the time. Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin were regular speakers there. Po...
Inkjet, Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
"Lovers" - Limited Edition Fine Art Print
By Plastic Jesus
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This entire series was inspired by a piece of graffiti by the street artist Banksy in the UK. Nick Stern - who ironically has been called the Banksy of Los Angeles and goes by the street name "Plastic Jesus" -decided to set himself the challenge to recreate the original Banksy graffiti with as much accuracy as possible, including the texture of the walls where the stencils were on and the windows on the buildings here in Los Angeles. Most were recreated “in situation”, without any photo shop. Only two works “The Maid” and “The Lovers” required minimal photoshop. Nick is English as is Banksy but based in Los Angeles so finding brick walls or a sash window was fun to find for the shoots. All photographs are printed to order and signed, with a certificate of authenticity signed by Wallspace. They are printed on 20”x16”paper with a border included - be aware that images may not all be exactly the same size as the imagery has different layouts. The paper size will be framed to the same size. The paper is a heavy weight fine art paper Entrada. fine art print...
Archival Paper
"Love the Bomb" - Limited Edition Fine Art Print
By Plastic Jesus
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This entire series was inspired by a piece of graffiti by the street artist Banksy in the UK. Nick Stern - who ironically has been called the Banksy of Los Angeles and goes by the s...
Archival Paper
"Mona Lisa" - Limited Edition Fine Art Print
By Plastic Jesus
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This entire series was inspired by a piece of graffiti by the street artist Banksy in the UK. Nick Stern - who ironically has been called the Banksy of Los Angeles and goes by the s...
Archival Paper
"Queen’s Guard" - Limited Edition Fine Art Print
By Plastic Jesus
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This entire series was inspired by a piece of graffiti by the street artist Banksy in the UK. Nick Stern - who ironically has been called the Banksy of Los Angeles and goes by the street name "Plastic Jesus" -decided to set himself the challenge to recreate the original Banksy...
Archival Paper
"Child Soldier" - Limited Edition Fine Art Print
By Plastic Jesus
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This entire series was inspired by a piece of graffiti by the street artist Banksy in the UK. Nick Stern - who ironically has been called the Banksy of Los Angeles and goes by the street name "Plastic Jesus" -decided to set himself the challenge to recreate the original Banksy...
Archival Paper
"Child Labor" - Limited Edition Fine Art Print
By Plastic Jesus
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This entire series was inspired by a piece of graffiti by the street artist Banksy in the UK. Nick Stern - who ironically has been called the Banksy of Los Angeles and goes by the s...
Archival Paper
BANKSY Banging Your Head Against a Brick Wall (Mini Book)
By Banksy
Located in Englishtown, NJ
This piece makes an amazing gift for a Banksy fan or any art lover! This year give a stylish, collectible gift they will remember and cherish for many years. We also offer the optio...
Paper
BANKSY Existencilism (Mini Book)
By Banksy
Located in Englishtown, NJ
This piece makes an amazing gift for a Banksy fan or any art lover! This year give a stylish, collectible gift they will remember and cherish for many years. We also offer the optio...
Paper
BANKSY Cut It Out (Mini Book)
By Banksy
Located in Englishtown, NJ
Super cool and collectible Banksy Cut It Out Mini Book. Released in 2004. Must have for the Banksy collector. Last in the series of 3 books released in mini black book format in the ...
Paper
BANKSY Dismaland Official Program
By Banksy
Located in Englishtown, NJ
Very collectible souvenir, Banksy’s Dismaland Official Program. This was one of the very few official items that were for sale at the Banksy show in 2015. Features smiley face cover ...
Magazine Paper