View source for Banksy

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{{Use British English|date=January 2013}}
{{Infobox artist
| image         = WallAndPiece.jpg
| caption       = The cover of Banksy's 2005 compilation, <br /> ''Wall and Piece''.
| name          = Banksy
| birth_name    = (unknown)<!-- Do not add without reliable source (Daily Mail is not), read the article for past speculations on his name -->
| birth_date    = Unknown 
| birth_place   = [[Banksy#2011|Bristol]]
| field         = [[Graffiti]] <br /> [[Street art]] <br /> [[Bristol underground scene]] <br /> [[Sculpture]] <br /> [[Satire]] <br /> [[Social commentary]]
| training      =
| awards        = [[Toronto Film Critics Association Awards]] – Best First Feature 2010 <br /> [[Independent Spirit Award for Best Documentary Feature]] <br /> [[Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association]] – Best Documentary Film 2010
}}

'''Banksy''' is a pseudonymous England-based [[Street artist|graffiti artist]], political activist, film director, and painter.

His [[satirical]] [[street art]] and subversive [[epigrams]] combine [[dark humour]] with [[graffiti]] done in a distinctive [[stencil]]ling technique. Such artistic works of political and social commentary have been featured on streets, walls, and bridges of cities throughout the world.<ref>[http://weburbanist.com/2007/07/19/banksy-paradox-unofficial-guide-to-the-worlds-most-infamous-urban-guerilla-street-artist/ "The Banksy Paradox: 7 Sides to the World's Most Infamous Street Artist], 19 July 2007</ref>

Banksy's work was made up of the [[Bristol underground scene]] which involved collaborations between artists and musicians.<ref name="tel_banksy">{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/3672135/Banksy-off-the-wall.html|title=Banksy: off the wall – Telegraph|work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |publisher=Telegraph Media Group|date=28 March 2008|accessdate=24 June 2009|last=Baker|first=Lindsay}}</ref> According to author and graphic designer Tristan Manco and the book ''Home Sweet Home'', Banksy "was born in 1974 and raised in Bristol, England.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/5346822.stm |title=Faces of the week|work=BBC News   |date=15 September 2006 |accessdate=26 January 2009| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20090111180057/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/5346822.stm| archivedate= 11 January 2009 | deadurl= no}}</ref> The son of a photocopier technician, he trained as a butcher but became involved in graffiti during the great Bristol aerosol boom of the late 1980s."<ref>{{cite book|last=Manco|first=Tristan|title=Stencil Graffiti|publisher=Thames & Hudson|location=London|date=11 March 2002|page=74|isbn=978-0-500-28342-4}}</ref> Observers have noted that his style is similar to [[Blek le Rat]], who began to work with stencils in 1981 in Paris and [[Jef Aerosol]] who sprayed his first street stencil in 1982 in Tours (France), and members of the [[anarcho-punk]] band [[Crass]], which maintained a graffiti stencil campaign on the London Tube System in the late 1970s and early 1980s.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/visual_arts/article4066727.ece |location=London |work=The Times  | first=Waldemar | last=Januszczak | title=Blek le Rat the man who gave birth to Banksy | date=8 June 2008}}</ref><ref name=Coan>{{cite news| url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/features/blek-le-rat-this-is-not-a-banksy-811130.html |location=London |work=The Independent |title=Blek le Rat: This is not a Banksy |date=19 April 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1024130/Breaking-Banksy-The-interview-worlds-elusive-artist.html |location=London |work=Daily Mail  |first=Lee |last=Coan |title=Breaking the Banksy |date=13 June 2008}}</ref> However Banksy claims that he based his work on that of [[Robert Del Naja|3D]] from Massive Attack, stating, "No, I copied 3D from Massive Attack. He can actually draw."<ref>[http://www.banksy.co.uk/QA/qaa.html Banksy – Questions]. Banksy.co.uk (1 December 2001). Retrieved on 2012-11-25.</ref>

Known for his contempt for the government in labelling graffiti as vandalism, Banksy displays his art on public surfaces such as walls, even going as far as to build physical prop pieces. Banksy does not sell photos of street graffiti directly himself; however, art auctioneers have been known to attempt to sell his street art on location and leave the problem of its removal in the hands of the winning bidder.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.meeja.com.au/index.php?display_article_id=290|title=Banksy fans fail to bite at street art auction|work=meeja.com.au|date=30 September 2008|accessdate=30 September 2008| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20081016145044/http://www.meeja.com.au/index.php?display_article_id=290| archivedate= 16 October 2008 | deadurl= no}}</ref> Banksy's first film, ''[[Exit Through the Gift Shop]]'', billed as "the world's first street art disaster movie," made its debut at the 2010 [[Sundance Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts_and_culture/8471145.stm |title=Banksy film to debut at Sundance |work=BBC News  |date=21 January 2010|accessdate=12 April 2010}}</ref> The film was released in the UK on 5 March 2010.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kay|first=Jeremy|url=http://www.screendaily.com/news/distribution/revolver-sets-march-5-uk-release-for-banksy-documentary/5010063.article |title=Revolver sets March&nbsp;5 UK release for Banksy documentary , News , Screen|work=creendaily.com|date=26 January 2010|accessdate=12 April 2010}}</ref> In January 2011, he was nominated for the [[Academy Award for Best Documentary]] for the film.

== Career ==

=== Early career (1992–2001) ===
Banksy began as a freehand graffiti artist in 1990–1994<ref name="WrightHome32">{{cite book|last=Wright|first=Steve|coauthors=Richard Jones, Trevor Wyatt|title=Banksy's Bristol: Home Sweet Home|publisher=Tangent Books|location=Bath|date=28 November 2007|page=32|isbn=978-1-906477-00-4}}</ref> as one of Bristol's DryBreadZ Crew (DBZ), with Kato and Tes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.graffiti.org/dj/n-igma3/uk1.html|title=N-Igma fanzine showing examples of DBZ Graffiti tagged by Banksy, Kato and Tes|date=1999-April}}</ref> He was inspired by local artists and his work was part of the larger [[Bristol underground scene]] with [[Nick Walker (artist)|Nick Walker]], [[Inkie]] and [[Robert Del Naja|3D]].<ref name="bbc street art show comes to Bristol">{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/bristol/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_7879000/7879064.stm | title=Street art show comes to Bristol |work=BBC News | date=9 February 2009 | accessdate=31 August 2011 | quote=Street art [...] erupted in the UK in the early 1980s [...] active on the Bristol scene at that time included Banksy, Nick Walker, Inkie and Robert del Naja, or '3D', of Massive Attack.}}</ref><ref name="sky banksy art auctions">{{cite news | url=http://news.sky.com/home/business/article/1304043 | title=Banksy Hits Out at Street Art Auctions | work=[[Sky News]] | date=6 February 2008 | accessdate=31 August 2011 | author=Reid, Julia | location=London | quote=Along with Banksy, Bristol's graffiti heritage includes 3D, who went on to form Massive Attack, Inkie, and one of the original stencil artists Nick Walker.}}</ref> From the start he used stencils as elements of his freehand pieces, too.<ref name="WrightHome32" /> By 2000 he had turned to the art of stencilling after realising how much less time it took to complete a work. He claims he changed to stencilling while he was hiding from the police under a rubbish lorry, when he noticed the stencilled serial number<ref name="wallandpiece">{{cite book |last=Banksy |title=Wall and Piece |publisher=[[Random House]] |url=http://www.randomhouse.co.uk/minisites/banksy/ |accessdate=19 September 2006 |year=2005| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20060928183419/http://www.randomhouse.co.uk/minisites/banksy/| archivedate= 28 September 2006 | deadurl= no}}</ref> and by employing this technique, he soon became more widely noticed for his art around Bristol and London.<ref name="wallandpiece" /> He played football with the [[Easton Cowboys and Cowgirls]] in the 1990s and toured with the club to Mexico in 2001.<ref name="bbc onyangaomara 2012">{{cite news|last=Onyanga-Omara|first=Jane|title=Banksy in goal: The story of the Easton Cowboys and Cowgirls|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-19410566|accessdate=14 September 2012|newspaper=[[BBC News]]|date=14 September 2012}}</ref>
[[File:Banksy.on.the.thekla.arp.jpg|thumb|right|Stencil on the waterline of [[Old Profanity Showboat (Thekla)|The Thekla]], an entertainment boat in central [[Bristol]]&nbsp;– ([[:Image:Thekla.in.bristol.arp.jpg|wider view]]). The image of Death is based on a 19th-century etching illustrating the [[Infectious disease|pestilence]] of [[The Great Stink]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/trail/victorian_britain/social_conditions/victorian_urban_planning_01.shtml |title=London's 'Great Stink' and Victorian Urban Planning |first=Martin |last=Daunton |work=BBC News |date=4 November 2004|accessdate=26 January 2009| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20090105192054/http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/trail/victorian_britain/social_conditions/victorian_urban_planning_01.shtml| archivedate= 5 January 2009 | deadurl= no}}</ref>]]
Banksy's stencils feature striking and humorous images occasionally combined with slogans. The message is usually anti-war, anti-capitalist or anti-establishment. Subjects often include rats, apes, policemen, soldiers, children, and the elderly.

In July 2011 one of Banksy's early works, ''Gorilla in a Pink Mask'', which had been a prominent landmark on the exterior wall of a former social club in [[Eastville, Bristol|Eastville]] for over ten years, was unknowingly painted over after the premises became a Muslim cultural centre.<ref>{{cite news|title=Whitewashed Banksy restoration 'could cost thousands'|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-14170547|accessdate=15 July 2011|newspaper=BBC|date=15 July 2011| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20110720081140/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-14170547| archivedate= 20 July 2011 | deadurl= no}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Bates|first=Stephen|title=Banksy's Gorilla in a Pink Mask is painted over|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2011/jul/15/banksy-gorilla-mask-painted-over|accessdate=15 July 2011|newspaper=The Guardian|date=15 July 2011|location=London| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20110716223702/http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2011/jul/15/banksy-gorilla-mask-painted-over| archivedate= 16 July 2011 | deadurl= no}}</ref>

=== Exhibitions (2002–2003) ===
On 19 June 2002, Banksy's first Los Angeles exhibition debuted at 33{{fraction|1|3}} Gallery, a tiny Silver Lake venue owned by Frank Sosa. The exhibition, entitled ''Existencilism'', was curated by 33{{fraction|1|3}} Gallery, Malathion LA's Chris Vargas, Funk Lazy Promotions' Grace Jehan, and B+.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.artofthestate.co.uk/banksy/Banksy_Existencilism_book.htm |title=Banksy Existencilism Book |work=Art of the State|accessdate=26 January 2009| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20090204070348/http://www.artofthestate.co.uk/banksy/Banksy_Existencilism_book.htm| archivedate= 4 February 2009 | deadurl= no}}</ref>

In 2003, at an exhibition called ''Turf War'', held in a warehouse, Banksy painted on animals. Although the [[RSPCA]] declared the conditions suitable, an animal rights activist chained herself to the railings in protest.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts/3077217.stm |title=Animals sprayed by graffiti artist |work=BBC News  |date=18 July 2003 |accessdate=19 September 2006| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20061005173441/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts/3077217.stm| archivedate= 5 October 2006 | deadurl= no}}</ref> He later moved on to producing [[Subversion (politics)|subverted]] paintings;{{Citation needed|date=April 2012}} one example is [[Monet]]'s ''Water Lily Pond'', adapted to include urban detritus such as litter and a [[shopping trolley]] floating in its reflective waters; another is [[Edward Hopper]]'s ''[[Nighthawks]]'', redrawn to show that the characters are looking at a British football hooligan, dressed only in his [[Union Flag]] underpants, who has just thrown an object through the glass window of the cafe. These oil paintings were shown at a twelve-day exhibition in Westbourne Grove, London in 2005.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.woostercollective.com/2005/10/banksy_show_tonight_in_london.html |title = Banksy Show Tonight in London |date = 13 October 2005 |accessdate =19 September 2006}}</ref>
[[File:banksy-art.jpg|thumb|Banksy art in [[Brick Lane]], [[East End]], 2004.]]

Banksy, along with [[Shepard Fairey]], Dmote and others created work at a warehouse exhibition in Alexandria, Sydney for Semi-Permanent in 2003. Approximately 1,500 people attended.

=== £10 notes to ''Barely Legal'' (2004–2006) ===
In August 2004, Banksy produced a quantity of spoof British £10 notes substituting the picture of the Queen's head with [[Diana, Princess of Wales|Diana, Princess of Wales's]] head and changing the text "Bank of England" to "Banksy of England." Someone threw a large wad of these into a crowd at Notting Hill Carnival that year, which some recipients then tried to spend in local shops. These notes were also given with invitations to a Santa's Ghetto exhibition by Pictures on Walls. The individual notes have since been selling on [[eBay]] for about £200 each. A wad of the notes were also thrown over a fence and into the crowd near the NME signing tent at The Reading Festival. A limited run of 50 signed posters containing ten uncut notes were also produced and sold by Pictures on Walls for £100 each to commemorate the death of Princess Diana. One of these sold in October 2007 at [[Bonhams]] auction house in London for £24,000.
[[File:Banksy Hitchhiker to Anywhere Archway 2005.jpg|thumb|left|upright|A stencil of [[Charles Manson]] in a prison suit, hitchhiking to anywhere, [[Archway, London]]]]

In August 2005, Banksy, on a trip to the Palestinian territories, created nine images on the [[Israeli West Bank barrier|Israeli West Bank wall]].<ref name="JonesIsrael">{{cite news |first=Sam |last=Jones |url=http://arts.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,11711,1543171,00.html |title=Spray can prankster tackles Israel's security barrier |date=5 August 2005 |work=The Guardian |location=London |accessdate=19 September 2006 | archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20061004133921/http://arts.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,11711,1543171,00.html| archivedate= 4 October 2006 | deadurl= no}}</ref>

Banksy held an exhibition called ''Barely Legal'', billed as a "three-day vandalised warehouse extravaganza" in Los Angeles, on the weekend of 16 September 2006. The exhibition featured a live "[[elephant in the room|elephant in a room]]," painted in a pink and gold floral wallpaper pattern, which, according to leaflets handed out at the exhibition, was intended to draw attention to the issue of world poverty. Although the Animal Services Department had issued a permit for the elephant, after complaints from [[animal rights]] activists, the elephant appeared unpainted on the final day. Its owners rejected claims of mistreatment and said that the elephant had done "many, many movies. She's used to makeup."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2006/sep/18/arts.artsnews |title=Banksy's painted elephant is illegal, say officials |author=Oliver, Mark |date=18 September 2006 |work=The Guardian |location=UK |accessdate=20 April 2011 }}</ref> Banksy also made artwork displaying Queen Victoria as a lesbian and satirical pieces that incorporated art made by Andy Warhol and Leonardo da Vinci.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5344676.stm | title='Guerrilla artist' Banksy hits LA |publisher=BBC News  | date=14 September 2006 | accessdate=19 September 2006 | first=Peter | last=Bowes}}</ref>

=== The Banksy effect (2006–2007) ===
{{Quote box
| quote  = "There are crimes that become innocent and even glorious through their splendour, number and excess."
| source = – Banksy<ref name = "HPBanksy">[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/30/banksy-graffiti-book_n_1827644.html?view=print&comm_ref=false Banksy Graffiti: A Book About The Thinking Street Artist] by ''[[The Huffington Post]]'', 30 August 2012</ref>
 | width = 25%
 | align = right
}}

After [[Christina Aguilera]] bought an original of [[Queen Victoria]] as a lesbian and two prints for £25,000,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/article356015.ece|title=Aguilera invests £25,000 in Banksy |work=The Independent |location=UK |date=6 April 2006 |accessdate=20 October 2006  | first=Matthew | last=Beard| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20060907055717/http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/article356015.ece| archivedate= 7 September 2006 | deadurl= no}}</ref> on 19 October 2006, a set of [[Kate Moss]] paintings sold in [[Sotheby's]] London for £50,400, setting an auction record for Banksy's work. The six silk-screen prints, featuring the model painted in the style of [[Andy Warhol]]'s [[Marilyn Monroe]] pictures, sold for five times their estimated value. His stencil of a green [[Mona Lisa]] with real paint dripping from her eyes sold for £57,600 at the same auction.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6069384.stm|title=Banksy works set auction record |work=BBC News  |date=20 October 2006 |accessdate=20 October 2006}}</ref>
In December, journalist [[Max Foster]] coined the phrase, "the Banksy effect," to illustrate how interest in other street artists was growing on the back of Banksy's success.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0612/04/ywt.01.html |title=Your World Toady (Transcript) |publisher=CNN |date=4 December 2006 | accessdate=26 April 2010}} "Banksy Effect" mentioned near end.</ref>

[[File:Banksy-ps.jpg|thumb|upright|right|Naked Man image by Banksy, on the wall of a sexual health clinic<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/5346822.stm |title=UK , Magazine , Faces of the week |work=BBC News  |date=15 September 2006 |accessdate=12 April 2010}}</ref> in [[Park Street, Bristol]]. Following popular support, the City Council has decided it will be allowed to remain – ([[:File:banksy.in.bristols.park.street.longshot.arp.jpg|wider view]]).]]

On 21 February 2007, Sotheby's auction house in London auctioned three works, reaching the highest ever price for a Banksy work at auction: over £102,000 for his ''Bombing Middle England''. Two of his other graffiti works, ''Balloon Girl'' and ''Bomb Hugger'', sold for £37,200 and £31,200 respectively, which were well above their estimated prices.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSL0710535520070207|title=British graffiti artist joins elite in record sale|agency=Reuters  |date=7 February 2007|accessdate=8 November 2008}}</ref> The following day's auction saw a further three Banksy works reach soaring prices: ''Ballerina with Action Man Parts'' reached £96,000; ''Glory'' sold for £72,000; ''Untitled (2004)'' sold for £33,600; all significantly above estimated values.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/sothebys-makes-a-killing-from-banksys-guerrilla-artworks-432756.html |title=Sotheby's makes a killing from Banksy's guerrilla artworks |first=Geneviève |last=Roberts |work=The Independent |location=UK |date=19 January 2007 |accessdate=26 January 2009 | archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20090221123459/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/sothebys-makes-a-killing-from-banksys-guerrilla-artworks-432756.html| archivedate= 21 February 2009 | deadurl= no}}</ref> To coincide with the second day of auctions, Banksy updated his website with a new image of an auction house scene showing people bidding on a picture that said, "I Can't Believe You Morons Actually Buy This Shit."<ref name="NYBanksyWasHere">{{cite web|last=Collins |first=Lauren |url=http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/05/14/070514fa_fact_collins?currentPage=all |title=Banksy Was Here: The invisible man of graffiti art |work=The New Yorker |date=14 May 2007 |accessdate=26 January 2009| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20081230190402/http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/05/14/070514fa_fact_collins?currentPage=all| archivedate= 30 December 2008 | deadurl= no}}</ref>
In February 2007, the owners of a house with a Banksy mural on the side in [[Bristol]] decided to sell the house through Red Propeller art gallery after offers fell through because the prospective buyers wanted to remove the mural. It is listed as a mural that comes with a house attached.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/6351467.stm |title=Free house as part of mural sale |work=BBC News  |date=12 February 2007 |accessdate=12 February 2007| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20070213055359/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/6351467.stm| archivedate= 13 February 2007 | deadurl= no}}</ref> In 2008, Nathan Wellard and Maev Neal, a couple from Norfolk, UK, made headlines in Britain when they decided to sell their mobile home that contains a 30-foot mural, entitled Fragile Silence, done by Banksy a decade prior to his rise to fame.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hoyle|first=Antonia|title=Trailer worth £1,000 goes on sale for £500,000 after it was painted over by graffiti artist Banksy |url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1023356/Trailer-worth-1-000-goes-sale-500-000-painted-graffiti-artist-Banksy.html|publisher=Daily Mail|accessdate=17 June 2012}}</ref> According to Nathan Wellard, Banksy had asked the couple if he could use the side of their home as a "large canvas," to which they agreed. In return for the "canvas", the Bristol stencil artist gave them two free tickets to the Glastonbury Music Festival [http://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk]. The mobile home purchased by the couple 11 years ago for 1,000 GBP, is now being sold for 500,000 GBP.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mobile 'art house' for sale|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/7433882.stm|publisher=BBC News}}</ref>

In April 2007, [[Transport for London]] painted over Banksy's iconic image of a scene from [[Quentin Tarantino]]'s ''Pulp Fiction'', featuring [[Samuel L. Jackson]] and [[John Travolta]] clutching bananas instead of guns. Although the image was very popular, [[Transport for London]] claimed that the "graffiti" created "a general atmosphere of neglect and social decay which in turn encourages crime" and their staff are "professional cleaners not professional art critics."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6575345.stm |title=Iconic Banksy image painted over |work=BBC News  |date=20 April 2007 |accessdate=20 April 2007| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20070525234557/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6575345.stm| archivedate= 25 May 2007 | deadurl= no}}</ref> Banksy tagged the same site again and, initially, the actors were portrayed as holding real guns instead of bananas, but they were adorned with banana costumes. Some time later, Banksy made a tribute artwork over this second ''Pulp Fiction'' work. The tribute was for 19-year-old British graffiti artist Ozone who, along with fellow artist Wants, was hit by an underground train in [[Barking]], East London on 12 January 2007.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2007/jan/20/ukcrime.prisonsandprobation |title=Blood on the tracks |first=Esther |last=Addley |work=The Guardian |location=London |date=26 January 2007 |accessdate=26 January 2009 }}</ref> Banksy depicted an angel wearing a bullet-proof vest holding a skull (pictured below left). He also wrote a note on his website saying:
<blockquote>''The last time I hit this spot I painted a crap picture of two men in banana costumes waving hand guns. A few weeks later a writer called Ozone completely dogged it and then wrote 'If it's better next time I'll leave it' in the bottom corner. When we lost Ozone we lost a fearless graffiti writer and as it turns out a pretty perceptive art critic. Ozone – rest in peace.''<ref>{{cite book|last=Bull|first=Martin|title=Banksy Locations & Tours: A collection of Graffiti Locations and Photographs in London, England|year=2011|publisher=PM Press|isbn=978-1-60486-320-8}}</ref></blockquote>
[[File:OzoneAngel.jpg|thumb|left|''Ozone's Angel'']]
On 27 April 2007, a new record high for the sale of Banksy's work was set with the auction of the work ''Space Girl & Bird'' fetching £288,000 (US$576,000) around 20 times the estimate at [[Bonhams]] of London.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUKL2531915420070425 |title=Reuters UK: Elusive artist Banksy sets record price |publisher=Uk.reuters.com |date=25 April 2007 |accessdate=26 January 2009| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20081230165901/http://uk.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUKL2531915420070425| archivedate= 30 December 2008 | deadurl= no}}</ref>
On 21 May 2007 Banksy gained the award for Art's [[Greatest Britons|Greatest living Briton]]. Banksy, as expected, did not turn up to collect his award and continued with his notoriously anonymous status.
On 4 June 2007, it was reported that Banksy's ''The Drinker'' had been stolen.<ref>{{cite web |title=Banksy Statue Stolen |url=http://www.stranger-mag.com/news/ear-to-the-ground/banksy-statue-stolen.html |work=[[Stranger (magazine)|Stranger]] |accessdate=4 June 2007| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20070608161006/http://www.stranger-mag.com/news/ear-to-the-ground/banksy-statue-stolen.html| archivedate= 8 June 2007 | deadurl= no}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://arts.guardian.co.uk/features/story/0,,1184233,00.html |title=But is it kidnap?|first=Simon |last=Hattenstone |work=The Guardian |location=UK |date=2 April 2004 |accessdate=15 June 2008 | archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20080625121937/http://arts.guardian.co.uk/features/story/0,,1184233,00.html| archivedate= 25 June 2008 | deadurl= no}}</ref> In October 2007, most of his works offered for sale at [[Bonhams]] auction house in London sold for more than twice their reserve price.<ref>[http://news.sky.com/skynews/picture_gallery/0,,30100-1289548,00.html ''Guerilla Artist,''] Sky News, 24 October 2007</ref>

[[File:Banksyglasto.JPG|thumb|250px|Banksy's "Stonehenge" from portable toilets at the [[Glastonbury Festival]], June 2007]]

Banksy has published a "[[manifesto]]" on his website.<ref name=manifesto>{{cite web|url=http://www.banksy.co.uk/manifesto/index.html|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20050119032828/http://www.banksy.co.uk/manifesto/index.html|archivedate=19 January 2005|title=Camp}}</ref> The text of the manifesto is credited as the diary entry of one [[Lieutenant Colonel]] Mervin Willett Gonin, [[Distinguished Service Order|DSO]], which is exhibited in the [[Imperial War Museum]]. It describes how a shipment of lipstick to the [[Bergen-Belsen concentration camp|Bergen-Belsen]] [[concentration camp]] immediately after its liberation at the end of World War II helped the internees regain their humanity. However, as of 18 January 2008, Banksy's Manifesto has been substituted with Graffiti Heroes No.03 that describes Peter Chappell's graffiti quest of the 1970s that worked to free [[George Davis (armed robber)|George Davis]] of his imprisonment.<ref name=manifesto /> By 12 August 2009 he was relying on [[Emo Philips]]' "When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realised God doesn't work that way, so I stole one and prayed for forgiveness."
A small number of Banksy's works can be seen in the movie ''[[Children of Men]]'', including a stenciled image of two policemen kissing and another stencil of a child looking down a shop.

Banksy, who "is not represented by any of the commercial galleries that sell his work second hand (including Lazarides Ltd, Andipa Gallery, Bank Robber, Dreweatts etc),"<ref>{{cite web |title= A message from Banksy's lawyer |url=http://www.banksy.co.uk/shop/index.html |accessdate=28 October 2010| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20101026144455/http://www.banksy.co.uk/shop/index.html| archivedate= 26 October 2010| deadurl= no}}</ref> claims that the exhibition at Vanina Holasek Gallery in New York (his first major exhibition in that city) is unauthorised. The exhibition featured 62 of his paintings and prints.<ref>{{cite web |title= Banksy Pans His First New York Show |work=Artinfo |publisher=[[Louise Blouin Media]] |date=7 December 2007 |url=http://www.artinfo.com/news/story/26312/banksy-pans-his-first-new-york-show/ |accessdate=16 April 2008}}</ref>

=== 2008 ===
[[File:Banksy Swinger Building Detail.jpg|thumb|left|Banksy "Swinger" in New Orleans]]
In March, a stencilled graffiti work appeared on [[Thames Water]] tower in the middle of the [[Holland Park Avenue|Holland Park roundabout]], and it was widely attributed to Banksy. It was of a child painting the tag "Take this—Society!" in bright orange. [[London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham]] spokesman, Councillor Greg Smith branded the art as vandalism, and ordered its immediate removal, which was carried out by H&F council workmen within three days.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20080314012848/http://thelondonpaper.typepad.com/thelondonblog/2008/03/banksy-must-hav.html|title=Banksy must have an Oyster card. He's gone west!|work=The London Paper|date=11 March 2008}}</ref>

[[File:No Loitering Banksy.jpg|thumb|Work on building in the [[Lower 9th Ward]] of New Orleans, August 2008]]
In late August 2008, marking the third anniversary of [[Hurricane Katrina]] and the associated [[2005 levee failures in Greater New Orleans|levee failure disaster]], Banksy produced a series of works in New Orleans, Louisiana, mostly on buildings derelict since the disaster.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Banksy-Paints-Murals-In-New-Orleans-To-Mark-Hurricane-Katrina-Anniversary/Media-Gallery/200808415088995?lpos=World+News_0&lid=GALLERY_15088995_Banksy+Paints+Murals+In+New+Orleans+To+Mark+Hurricane+Katrina+Anniversary |title=Banksy Paints Murals in New Orleans To Mark Hurricane Katrina Anniversary; Gallery 'Banksy Art in Big Easy' |work=Sky News |date=28 August 2008}}</ref>
A stencil painting attributed to Banksy appeared at a vacant petrol station in the [[Ensley, Birmingham, Alabama|Ensley]] neighbourhood of [[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham]], Alabama on 29 August as [[Hurricane Gustav]] approached the New Orleans area. The painting depicting a hooded member of the [[Ku Klux Klan]] hanging from a noose was quickly covered with black spray paint and later removed altogether.<ref name=Bhamnews>[http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1220429804325250.xml&coll=2 Famed artist may have left local mark], Jeremy Gray, ''[[Birmingham News]]''</ref>
His first official exhibition in New York, the "Village Pet Store And Charcoal Grill," opened 5 October 2008. The [[Audio-Animatronics|animatronic]] pets in the store window include a mother hen watching over her baby [[Chicken McNuggets]] as they peck at a barbecue sauce packet, and a rabbit putting makeup on in a mirror.<ref name=NYOct2008>{{cite news | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/09/arts/design/09publ.html | title=Where Fish Sticks Swim Free and Chicken Nuggets Self-Dip | work=The New York Times | first=Melena | last=Ryzik | date=9 October 2008}}</ref>
[[File:Bansky one nation under cctv.jpg|thumb|left|''One nation under [[CCTV]]'', 2008 mural removed (painted over) in 2009.<ref name = SMHOct2008>{{cite news|url = http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/banksy-art-is-graffiti-rules-council/2008/10/24/1224351528852.html | work=The Sydney Morning Herald |title = Banksy art is graffiti, rules town hall |date = 24 October 2008}}</ref>]]
The [[Westminster City Council]] stated in October 2008 that the work "One Nation Under [[Closed-circuit television|CCTV]]," painted in April 2008 would be painted over as it was graffiti. The council said it would remove any graffiti, regardless of the reputation of its creator, and specifically stated that Banksy "has no more right to paint graffiti than a child." Robert Davis, the chairman of the council planning committee told ''The Times'' newspaper: "If we condone this then we might as well say that any kid with a spray can is producing art."<ref name = SMHOct2008 /> The work was painted over in April 2009.
In December 2008, The Little Diver, a Banksy image of a diver in a duffle coat in Melbourne Australia was destroyed. The image had been protected by a sheet of clear perspex, however silver paint was poured behind the protective sheet and later tagged with the words "Banksy woz ere." The image was almost completely obliterated.<ref name = TheAgeDec2008>{{cite news|url = http://www.theage.com.au/national/the-painter-painted-melbourne-loses-its-treasured-banksy-20081213-6xzy.html|work=The Age |location=Australia|title = The painter painted: Melbourne loses its treasured Banksy|date = 14 December 2008 | first=Janae | last=Houghton}}</ref>

=== The Cans Festival ===
Over the weekend 3–5 May in London, Banksy hosted an exhibition called ''[[The Cans Festival]]''. It was situated on [[Leake Street]], a road tunnel formerly used by Eurostar underneath [[London Waterloo station]]. Graffiti artists with stencils were invited to join in and paint their own artwork, as long as it did not cover anyone else's.<ref>{{cite news|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/7377622.stm|title = Tunnel becomes Banksy art exhibit|date = 2 May 2008|work=BBC News  | accessdate=5 January 2010}}</ref> Artists included [[Blek le Rat]], Broken Crow, C215, [[Cartrain]], [[DOLK (artist)|Dolk]], Dotmasters, J.Glover, [[Ben Eine]], Eelus, Hero, Pure evil, [[Jef Aérosol]], [[Mr Brainwash]], Tom Civil Roadsworth and Sten & Lex.{{Citation needed|date=October 2008}}

Banksy invited thirty-nine artists from around the world, including [[Sten Lex]], [[Bsas Stencil]], [[Prism (street artist)|Prism]], [[Roadsworth (artist)|Roadsworth]], [[Blek le Rat|Blek]], C215, [[The Dotmasters|Dotmasters]], [[Hero (artist)|Hero]], [[Sadhu (artist)|Sadhu]], [[Lucamaleonte (artist)|Lucamaleonte]], [[Faile (artist)|Faile]], [[Logan Hicks]], [[Btoy]], [[Vhils (artists)|Vhils]], [[Vexta]] and [[John Grider (artists)|John Grider]] exhibited their works in an abandoned tunnel near Leake Street in South East London.<ref>{{cite news | title = Banksy Hosts The Cans Festival | url = http://www.coolhunting.com/archives/2008/05/banksy-cans-festival.php | publisher = Cool Hunting | date = 6 May 2008|accessdate=17 May 2008| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20080511184925/http://www.coolhunting.com/archives/2008/05/banksy-cans-festival.php| archivedate= 11 May 2008| deadurl= no}}</ref>

The festival's name is a play on the famous French film extravaganza{{Citation needed|date=April 2012}} The [[Cannes Film Festival]].

=== 2009 ===
[[File:Banksy Bristol Queues.jpg|thumb|Queues for the Banksy vs Bristol Museum Show in [[Bristol]], June 2009]]
[[File:King Robbo.jpg|thumb|The location of the damaged 1985 graffiti by [[King Robbo|Robbo]] in Camden, London allegedly painted over by Banksy and subsequently painted over by Robbo in retaliation.]]
In May 2009, Banksy parted company with agent Steve Lazarides and announced that Pest Control,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pestcontroloffice.com/whatispco.html |title=What is Pest Control? |publisher=Pest Control Office|accessdate=23 May 2009}}</ref> the handling service who act on his behalf, would be the only point of sale for new works.
On 13 June 2009, the Banksy vs Bristol Museum show opened at [[Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery]], featuring more than 100 works of art, including animatronics and installations; it is his largest exhibition yet, featuring 78 new works.<ref>
{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/bristol/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8097000/8097022.stm |title=Banksy's homecoming reviewed |work=BBC Bristol |publisher=BBC  |date=12 June 2009 |accessdate=14 June 2009 |last=Cafe
|first=Rebecca | archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20090615142841/http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/bristol/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8097000/8097022.stm| archivedate= 15 June 2009 | deadurl= no}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2009/jun/13/banksy-bristol-city-museum|title=Take a stuffy old institution. Remix. Add wit. It's Banksy v the museum|last=Sawyer|first=Miranda|date=13 June 2009|work=The Guardian |location=London |publisher=Guardian News and Media|accessdate=13 June 2009 | archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20090615161052/http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2009/jun/13/banksy-bristol-city-museum| archivedate= 15 June 2009 | deadurl= no}}</ref> Reaction to the show was positive, with over 8,500 visitors to the show on the first weekend.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/homepage/Thousands-flock-Banksy-Bristol/article-1075613-detail/article.html |title=Thousands flock to Banksy show in Bristol|date=15 June 2009 |work=Bristol Evening Post |publisher=Bristol News and Media |accessdate=15 June 2009| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20090618140338/http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/homepage/Thousands-flock-Banksy-Bristol/article-1075613-detail/article.html| archivedate= 18 June 2009 | deadurl= no}}</ref> Over the course of the twelve weeks, the exhibition was visited over 300,000 times.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/bristol/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8097000/8097022.stm |title=Banksy art show draws in 300,000 |work=BBC Bristol |publisher=BBC  |date=31 August 2009 |accessdate=31 August 2009 | first=Rebecca | last=Cafe}}</ref>
In September 2009, a Banksy work parodying the Royal Family was partially destroyed by Hackney Council after they served an enforcement notice for graffiti removal to the former address of the property owner. The mural had been commissioned for the 2003 [[Blur (band)|Blur]] single "[[Crazy Beat]]" and the property owner, who had allowed it to be painted, was reported to have been in tears when she saw it was being painted over.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8238896.stm |title=Blur Banksy is ruined by mistake |publisher=BBC News  |date=5 September 2009 |accessdate=5 September 2009}}</ref>
In December 2009, Banksy marked the end of the [[2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference]] by painting four murals on global warming. One included the phrase, "I don't believe in global warming;" the words were submerged in water.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8425397.stm Banksy art tackles global warming]. ''BBC News''. 21 December 2009.</ref>
A feud and graffiti war between Banksy and [[King Robbo]] broke out when Banksy allegedly painted over one of Robbo's tags. The feud has led to many of Banksy's works being altered by graffiti writers.<ref name="indy">{{cite web|url=http://www.sabotagetimes.com/people/my-graffiti-war-with-banksy-by-king-robbo/|title=My Graffiti War with Banksy By King Robbo|author=Fuertes-Knight, Jo |publisher=Sabotage Times
}}</ref>

=== ''Exit Through the Gift Shop'' (2010) ===
The world premiere of the film ''[[Exit Through the Gift Shop]]'' occurred at the [[Sundance Film Festival]] in [[Park City, Utah]], on 24 January. He created 10 street artworks around Park City and Salt Lake City to tie in with the screening.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sltrib.com/News/ci_14232591 |title=Famous 'tagger' Banksy strikes in Utah |first=Sean P. |last=Means| work=The Salt Lake Tribune |date=21 January 2010 |accessdate=21 January 2010| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20100124082724/http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_14232591| archivedate= 24 January 2010 | deadurl= no}}</ref>
In February, [[The Whitehouse (pub)|The Whitehouse]] public house in [[Liverpool]], England, was sold for £114,000 at auction. The side of the building has an image of a giant rat by Banksy.<ref name="liverpooldailypost">{{cite web |url=http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2010/02/18/liverpool-banksy-rat-pub-building-sold-for-114-000-at-auction-100252-25864205/ |title=Liverpool Banksy rat pub building sold for £114,000 at auction |date=18 February 2010|work=The Liverpool Daily Post|author=Sharpe, Laura }}</ref>
In March 2010, the work "Forgive us our Trespassing" was displayed in the London underground. The work had to be displayed without the halo over the boy's head. After a few days the halo was repainted and the poster was removed by Tube advertising bosses. The display was organised by [[Art Below]], a London based public art agency.
In April 2010, Melbourne City Council in Australia reported that they had inadvertently ordered private contractors to paint over the last remaining Banksy art in the city. The image was of a [[Parachuting Rat|rat descending in a parachute]] adorning the wall of an old council building behind the Forum Theatre.[This report was false as the image was destroyed by plumbers in May 2012 and received a decent amount of local press] In 2008, vandals had poured paint over a stencil of an old-fashioned diver wearing a trenchcoat. A council spokeswoman has said they would now rush through retrospective permits to protect other "famous or significant artworks" in the city.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://melbourne-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/anti-graffiti-crew-accidentally-paints-over-banksy-art-in-cbd/ |title=Anti-graffiti crew accidentally paints over Banksy art in CBD |work=The Melbourne Leader |date=27 April 2010 |accessdate=27 April 2010| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20100429030922/http://melbourne-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/anti-graffiti-crew-accidentally-paints-over-banksy-art-in-cbd/| archivedate= 29 April 2010 | deadurl= no}}</ref>
In April 2010, to coincide with the premiere of ''Exit Through the Gift Shop'' in San Francisco, five of his works appeared in various parts of the city.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/inthemission/detail?entry_id=62063| title=Street Artist Banksy Marks the Mission |accessdate=27 April 2010|work=The San Francisco Chronicle | date=23 April 2010| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20100428215041/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/inthemission/detail?entry_id=62063| archivedate= 28 April 2010 | deadurl= no}}</ref> Banksy reportedly paid a [[Chinatown, San Francisco|San Francisco Chinatown]] building owner $50 for the use of their wall for one of his stencils.<ref>[http://sfluxe.com/2010/04/24/banksy-in-san-francisco/ Banksy in San Francisco | San Francisco Luxury Living]. Sfluxe.com (24 April 2010). Retrieved on 2012-11-25.</ref>
In early May 2010, seven new Banksy works of art appeared in Toronto, Ontario, Canada,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://torontoist.com/2010/05/banksy_comes_to_toronto.php| title=Banksy comes to Toronto |accessdate=9 May 2010|work=Torontoist| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20100512044227/http://torontoist.com/2010/05/banksy_comes_to_toronto.php| archivedate= 12 May 2010| deadurl= no}}</ref> though most have been subsequently painted over or removed.
In May 2010, to coincide with the premiere of ''Exit Through the Gift Shop'' in Royal Oak, Banksy visited the Detroit area and left his mark in several places in Detroit and Warren.<ref name="Wright-2010">{{cite web | url=http://blogs.metrotimes.com/index.php/2010/05/mt-exclusive-banksy-leaves-a-rat-in-warren-and-a-diamond-in-detroit | title=Banksy Leaves a Rat in Warren and a Diamond in Detroit | author=Travis R Wright | date=10 May 2010 | accessdate=14 March 2011 | publisher=Metro Times blogs}}</ref> Shortly after, his work depicting a little boy holding a can of red paint next to the words "I remember when all this was trees" was excavated by the 555 Nonprofit Gallery and Studios. They claim that they do not intend to sell the work but plan to preserve it and display it at their Detroit gallery.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.freep.com/article/20100515/ENT05/100514077/Graffiti-artist-Banksy-leaves-mark-on-Detroit-and-ignites-firestorm|title=Graffiti artist Banksy leaves mark on Detroit and ignites firestorm|author=Mark Stryker}}</ref> There was also an attempted removal of one of the Warren works known as "Diamond Girl."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.detroitmoxie.com/home/2010/5/12/street-artist-banksy-tags-detroit.html|date=12 May 2010|work=Detroit Moxie|title=Street Artist Banksy Tags Detroit|author=Becks Davis}}</ref>

In late January 2011, ''Exit Through the Gift Shop'' was nominated for a 2010 Oscar for Best Documentary Feature.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20110711102803/http://oscar.go.com/nominations/category/documentary-feature/synopsis/exit-through-the-gift-shop/687163 Banksy nominated for Oscar]. Oscar.go.com. Retrieved on 2012-11-25.</ref> Banksy released a statement about the nomination, where he said, "This is a big surprise… I don't agree with the concept of award ceremonies, but I'm prepared to make an exception for the ones I'm nominated for. The last time there was a naked man covered in gold paint in my house, it was me."<ref>[http://www.nme.com/movies/news/banksy-welcomes-oscar-nomination-for-exit-through-the-gift-shop/203819 Banksy statement to Oscar nomination]. Nme.com (27 January 2011). Retrieved on 2012-11-25.</ref> Leading up to the Oscars, Banksy blanketed Los Angeles with street art. Many people speculated if Banksy would show up at the Oscars in disguise and make a surprise appearance if he won the Oscar. ''Exit Through the Gift Shop'' did not win the award, which went to ''[[Inside Job (film)|Inside Job]]''. In early March 2011, Banksy responded to the Oscars with an artwork in Weston, UK, of a little girl holding the Oscar and pouting. Many people think that it is in reference to 15-month old Lara, who dropped and damaged her father's (''The King's Speech'' co-producer Simon Egan) Oscar statue.<ref>[http://swns.com/banksy-pays-tribute-to-oscar-dropping-child-with-new-artwork-091535.html Banksy responds to Oscars]. Swns.com (9 March 2011). Retrieved on 2012-11-25.</ref> ''Exit Through the Gift Shop'' was broadcast on British public television station [[Channel 4]] on 13 August 2011.

Banksy was also credited with the opening [[couch gag]] for the 2010 ''[[The Simpsons]]'' episode "[[MoneyBart|MoneyBART]]," depicting people working in deplorable conditions and using endangered or mythical animals to make both the episodes cel-by-cel and the merchandise connected with the program.<ref name="BBCNews11OCt2010">{{cite news |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11510513 |title= Banksy creates new Simpsons title sequence|accessdate=12 October 2010|work=BBC News  | date=11 October 2010| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20101012045931/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11510513| archivedate= 12 October 2010 | deadurl= no}}</ref> His name appears several times throughout the episode's opening sequence, spray-painted on assorted walls and signs. Fox sanitised parts of the opening "for taste" and to make it  less grim. In January 2011, Banksy published the original storyboard on its website.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20110126164711/http://www.banksy.co.uk/indoors/simp.html Original Storyboard] from banksy.co.uk, archived at web.archive.org</ref> According to Banksy, the storyboard "led to delays, disputes over broadcast standards and a threatened walk out by the animation department." Executive director [[Al Jean]] jokingly said, "This is what you get when you outsource."<ref name="BBCNews11OCt2010" />

The work 'Forgive us our Trespassing' by Banksy was displayed in March 2010 at London Bridge in conjunction with [[Art Below]] a arts company that put on art shows on the [[London Underground]]. The work was censored by the ''Transport for London'' (TfL), forbidding display of the work with its halo, because of the prevalence of graffiti in the underground.<ref name="BBCBanksy">{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8573323.stm |title=London Underground Banksy work regains its halo |work=BBC News |date=2010-03-17 |accessdate=2011-12-25}}</ref>  It was displayed without the halo over the boy's head, but after a few days the halo was repainted by a tagger, so the TfL disposed of the poster. This decline went through the press and several articles were published remarking on the progress of the poster.<ref name="BBCBanksy"/><ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23816233-underground-mystery-as-banksy-work-regains-its-halo.do
 |title=Underground mystery as Banksy work regains its halo
 |work=London Evening Standard
 |publisher=Thisislondon.co.uk
 |date= 17 March 2010
 |accessdate=2011-12-25
}}</ref>

=== 2011 ===
In May 2011 Banksy released a lithographic print which showed a smoking [[petrol bomb]] contained in a 'Tesco Value' bottle. This followed a long running campaign by locals against the opening of a Tesco Express supermarket in Banksy's home city of Bristol. Violent clashes had taken place between police and demonstrators in the Stokes Croft area. Banksy produced the poster ostensibly to raise money for local groups in the Stokes Croft area and to raise money for the legal defence of those arrested during the riots. The posters were sold exclusively at the Bristol Anarchists Bookfair in Stokes Croft for £5 each.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1383544/Banksy-backs-Bristol-Tesco-rioters-new-petrol-bomb-poster.html |location=London |work=Daily Mail  | title=Banksy fans the flames of Tesco row as he releases new petrol bomb poster to support their cause | date=5 May 2011}}</ref>

In December, he unveiled "Cardinal Sin" at the [[Walker Art Gallery]], Liverpool. The bust, which replaces a priest's face with a "pixelated" effect, was a statement on the [[child abuse]] scandal in the Catholic Church.<ref name="BBCNews15Dec2011">{{cite news| url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-16184773 |work=BBC News | title=Banksy unveils church abuse work | date=15 December 2011}}</ref>

=== 2012 ===

In May 2012 his [[Parachuting Rat]], painted in [[Melbourne]] in the late 1990s, was accidentally destroyed by plumbers installing new pipes.<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-05-16/melbourne-builder-destroys-banksy-art/4014514 Banksy rat destroyed by builders – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)]. Abc.net.au (16 May 2012). Retrieved on 2012-11-25.</ref><br />

=== 2013 ===
On February 18, BBC News reported that a recent Banksy mural, known as the [[Slave Labour (mural)|Slave Labour mural]] portraying a young child sewing [[Union Flag]] bunting (created around the time of the [[Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II]]) had been removed from the side of a [[Poundland]] store in Wood Green, north London, and soon appeared for sale in Fine Art Auctions Miami's catalogue (a US auction site based in Florida). News of this has reportedly caused "lots of anger" in the local community and is considered by some to be a theft. Fine Art Auctions Miami has rejected claims of theft, saying it had signed a contract with a "well-known collector" and that "everything was above board"; despite this, the local Councillor for Wood Green is campaigning for the work's return.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-21497261 Banksy mural vanishes from London, appears at US auction] bbc.co.uk/news (18 February 2013). Retrieved on 18-02-2013.</ref>

On the scheduled day of the auction, Fine Art Auctions Miami announced that it had withdrawn the work of art from the sale.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-21562042 Taken Banksy is withdrawn from sale] bbc.co.uk/news (24 February 2013). Retrieved 12-03/2013.</ref>

On May 11, BBC News reports that the same Banksy mural is up for auction again in Covent Garden by the Sincura Group. The auction is scheduled to take place in June. It is expected to fetch up to £450,000.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-22492378 Banksy Slave Labour mural up for auction again] bbc.co.uk/news (11 May 2013). Retrieved 11-05/2013.</ref>

== Notable artworks ==
{{Quote box
| quote  = "When you go to an art gallery you are simply a tourist looking at the trophy cabinet of a few millionaires."
| source = – Banksy<ref>''Wall and Piece'', by Banksy, 2006, Century, ISBN 1-84413-787-2, pg 150</ref>
 | width = 25%
 | align = right
}}
[[File:Mauer-betlehem.jpg|thumb|250px|Near Bethlehem – 2005]]
Regarding personal fame, Banksy has stated that "We don't need any more heroes; we just need someone to take out the [[recycling]]."<ref>''Wall and Piece'', by Banksy, 2006, Century, ISBN 1-84413-787-2, pg 202</ref> However, in addition to his artwork, Banksy has claimed responsibility for a number of high profile artworks, including the following:
* At [[London Zoo]], he climbed into the penguin enclosure and painted "We're bored of fish" in {{convert|7|ft|m|adj=mid|-high}} letters.<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2007/03/18/do1806.xml For the Gauguin of graffiti it was all about tagging. Now he's into six-figure price tags]. The Telegraph</ref>
* At [[Bristol Zoo]], he left the message "I want out. This place is too cold. Keeper smells. Boring, boring, boring." in the elephant enclosure.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/24/arts/design/24arti.html |title = Need Talent to Exhibit in Museums? Not This Prankster |accessdate =12 June 2008 |date = 24 March 2005 |work=The New York Times |first=Randy |last=Kennedy}}</ref>
* In March 2005, he placed subverted artworks in the [[Museum of Modern Art]], [[Metropolitan Museum of Art]], the [[Brooklyn Museum]], and the [[American Museum of Natural History]] in New York.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.woostercollective.com/2005/03/a_wooster_exclusive_banksy_hit.html |title=A Wooster Exclusive: Banksy Hits New York's Most Famous Museums (All of them) |accessdate=19 September 2006 |date=23 March 2005| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20060909040458/http://www.woostercollective.com/2005/03/a_wooster_exclusive_banksy_hit.html| archivedate= 9 September 2006 | deadurl= no}}</ref>
* In May 2005 Banksy's version of a primitive [[cave painting]] depicting a human figure hunting wildlife while pushing a shopping trolley was hung in gallery 49 of the [[British Museum]], London.<ref name=wired>{{cite journal |first=Jeff |last=Howe |journal=[[Wired magazine|Wired]] |issue=13.08 |url=http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.08/bansky.html |title=Art Attack |year=2005 |date=08 |accessdate=19 September 2006| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20060902025945/http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.08/bansky.html| archivedate= 2 September 2006 | deadurl= no}}</ref>
* In August 2005, Banksy painted nine images on the [[Israeli West Bank barrier]], including an image of a ladder going up and over the wall and an image of children digging a hole through the wall.<ref name="JonesIsrael" /><ref name="BBCNews5Aug2005">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4748063.stm |title=Art prankster sprays Israeli wall |publisher=BBC News  |date=5 August 2005 |accessdate=19 September 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Nigel |last=Parry |url=http://nigelparry.com/writing/banksy-mit-threshholds.shtml |title=British Graffiti Artist, Banksy, Hacks the Wall |date=10 October 2006 |publisher=Nigel Parry, from MIT ''Thresholds'' journal |accessdate=12 February 2009| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20090211151040/http://nigelparry.com/writing/banksy-mit-threshholds.shtml| archivedate= 11 February 2009 | deadurl= no}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Nigel |last=Parry |url=http://electronicIntifada.net/v2/article4153.shtml |title=Well-known UK graffiti artist Banksy hacks the Wall  |date=2 September 2005 |publisher=[[Electronic Intifada]] |accessdate=12 February 2009| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20090216190214/http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article4153.shtml| archivedate= 16 February 2009 | deadurl= no}}</ref>
* In October 2005, Banksy designed 6 station ID's for [[Nickelodeon]].<ref>{{cite web|author=loveforlogos |url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_aehLH1w8I&feature=youtu.be |title=Nickelodeon Next ID (2005) |publisher=YouTube |date=29 July 2012 |accessdate=2012-11-25}}</ref>
* In April 2006, Banksy created a sculpture based on a crumpled red phone box with a pickaxe in its side, apparently bleeding, and placed it in a side street in [[Soho]], London. It was later removed by [[Westminster City Council|Westminster Council]]."<ref name="BBCNews7Apr2007">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4887660.stm |title=Artist's cold call cuts off phone |work=BBC News   |date=7 April 2006 |accessdate=19 September 2006}}</ref>
* In June 2006, Banksy created an image of a naked man hanging out of a bedroom window on a wall visible from Park Street in central [[Bristol]]. The image sparked "a heated debate",<ref name="HSH p93">''Banksy's Bristol: Home Sweet Home'' by Steve Wright (2007), p. 93</ref> with the [[Bristol City Council]] leaving it up to the public to decide whether it should stay or go.<ref name="nakedman">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/bristol/somerset/5103306.stm |title=Artist's saucy stencil for city |date=21 June 2006 |accessdate=19 September 2006 |work=BBC News}}</ref> After an internet discussion in which 97% of the 500 people surveyed supported the stencil, the city council decided it would be left on the building.<ref name="HSH p93" /> The mural was later defaced with blue paint.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/8114184.stm |title=Banksy mural defaced with paint |date=23 June 2009 |accessdate=23 June 2009 |work=BBC News| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20090626223938/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/8114184.stm| archivedate= 26 June 2009 | deadurl= no}}</ref>
* In August/September 2006, Banksy placed up to 500 copies of [[Paris Hilton]]'s debut CD, ''[[Paris (Paris Hilton album)|Paris]]'', in 48 different UK record stores with his own cover art and remixes by [[Danger Mouse (music producer)|Danger Mouse]]. Music tracks were given titles such as "Why Am I Famous?", "What Have I Done?" and "What Am I For?". Several copies of the CD were purchased by the public before stores were able to remove them, some going on to be sold for as much as £750 on online auction websites such as [[eBay]]. The cover art depicted Hilton digitally altered to appear topless. Other pictures feature her with her chihuahua Tinkerbell's head replacing her own, and one of her stepping out of a luxury car, edited to include a group of homeless people, which included the caption "90% of success is just showing up."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5310416.stm |title=Paris Hilton targeted in CD prank |publisher=BBC News  |date=4 September 2006 |accessdate=19 September 2006| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20060910085841/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5310416.stm| archivedate= 10 September 2006 | deadurl= no}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Claire |last=Truscott |first2=Martin |last2=Hodgson |url=http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/article1325440.ece |title=Banksy targets Paris Hilton |publisher=[[The Independent on Sunday]] |date=3 September 2006 |accessdate=19 September 2006 | location=London| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20060905204207/http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/article1325440.ece| archivedate= 5 September 2006 | deadurl= no}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.netmusiccountdown.com/inc/news_article.php?id=10995 |title=Paris Prank Confirmed |date=7 September 2006 |accessdate=19 September 2006}}</ref>
* In September 2006, Banksy dressed an inflatable doll in the manner of a [[Guantanamo Bay detainment camp]] prisoner ([[Guantanamo captive's uniforms|orange jumpsuit]], black hood, and handcuffs) and then placed the figure within the [[Big Thunder Mountain Railroad]] ride at the [[Disneyland]] theme park in [[Anaheim, California|Anaheim]], California.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.woostercollective.com/2006/09/breaking_the_story_disneyland_doesnt_wan.html|title=Breaking: The story Disneyland doesn't want you to know|date=8 September 2006|accessdate=19 September 2006| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20061015233859/http://www.woostercollective.com/2006/09/breaking_the_story_disneyland_doesnt_wan.html| archivedate= 15 October 2006 | deadurl= no}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5335400.stm|title=Artist Banksy targets Disneyland|work=BBC News  |date=11 September 2006|accessdate=19 September 2006| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20061005170241/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5335400.stm| archivedate= 5 October 2006 | deadurl= no}}</ref>
* He makes stickers (the Neighbourhood Watch subvert) and was responsible for the cover art of [[Blur (band)|Blur's]] 2003 album ''[[Think Tank (Blur album)|Think Tank]]''.
* In September 2007, Banksy covered a wall in Portobello Road with a French artist painting graffiti of Banksy's name.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7188387.stm|title=£208,100 eBay bid for Banksy wall|date=14 January 2008|accessdate=14 January 2008| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20080117104716/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7188387.stm| archivedate= 17 January 2008 | deadurl= no}}</ref>
* In July 2012, in the run up to the ''[[London 2012]]'' Olympic games he created several pieces based upon this event. One included an image of an athlete throwing a missile instead of Javelin, evidently taking a poke at the Surface to Air missile sites positioned in the Stratford area to defend the games.<ref>{{cite web|author=Eurosport |url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/londonspy/london-could-destroy-banksy-valuable-olympic-graffiti-091627080.html |title=London could destroy Banksy’s valuable Olympic graffiti &#124; London Spy – Yahoo! Eurosport UK |publisher=Uk.eurosport.yahoo.com |date=25 July 2012 |accessdate=2012-11-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Posted: 24 July 2012 13:02 Updated: 26 July 2012 23:37 |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/07/24/london-2012-banksy-street-art_n_1697535.html?utm_hp_ref=uk |title=London 2012: Street Artist Banksy's Olympic Graffiti Unveiled (PICTURES) |publisher=Huffingtonpost.co.uk |date= |accessdate=2012-11-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Alex Horlock |url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2178237/Banksy-gets-Olympic-spirit-painting-mural-javelin-thrower-armed-missile.html?ITO=1490 |title=Banksy gets into the Olympic spirit by painting mural of javelin thrower armed with missile &#124; Mail Online |publisher=Dailymail.co.uk |date=24 July 2012 |accessdate=2012-11-25}}</ref>

== Technique ==
[[File:Banksy Girl ATM.JPG|thumb|ATM attacking a girl, Rosebery Avenue, London, January 2008]]
Asked about his technique, Banksy said: {{quote|I use whatever it takes. Sometimes that just means drawing a moustache on a girl's face on some billboard, sometimes that means sweating for days over an intricate drawing. Efficiency is the key.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.designiskinky.net/profiles/banksy.html|title=Design is Kinky|publisher=Design is Kinky|accessdate=26 January 2009| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20090203043252/http://designiskinky.net/profiles/banksy.html| archivedate= 3 February 2009 | deadurl= no}}</ref>}}

[[Stencil#Aerosol stencils|Stencils]] are traditionally hand drawn or printed onto sheets of acetate or card, before being cut out by hand. Because of the secretive nature of Banksy's work and identity, it is uncertain what techniques he uses to generate the images in his stencils, though it is assumed he uses computers for some images due to the photocopy nature of much of his work.

He mentions in his book, ''Wall and Piece'', that as he was starting to do graffiti, he was always too slow and was either caught or could never finish the art in one sitting. So he devised a series of intricate stencils to minimise time and overlapping of the colour.

There is dispute in the street art world over the legitimacy of stencils, with many artists criticising their use as "cheating."<ref name="Graffiti Wars">{{cite web|title=Graffiti Wars|url=http://www.channel4.com/programmes/graffiti-wars|work=Graffiti Wars|publisher=Channel 4|accessdate=13 September 2011}}</ref>

== Political and social themes ==
[[File:Shop Until You Drop by Banksy.JPG|thumb|right|Shop Until You Drop, Mayfair, London]]
{{quote|"We can't do anything to change the world until capitalism crumbles. In the meantime we should all go shopping to console ourselves."| Banksy, ''Wall and Piece''<ref>''Wall and Piece'', by Banksy, 2006, Century, ISBN 1-84413-787-2, pg 204</ref>}}

Banksy once characterised graffiti as a form of underclass "revenge", or [[guerilla warfare]] that allows an individual to snatch away power, territory and glory from a bigger and better equipped enemy.<ref name = "HPBanksy" /> Banksy sees a [[social class]] component to this [[class struggle|struggle]], remarking "If you don't own a train company then you go and paint on one instead."<ref name = "HPBanksy" /> Banksy's work has also shown a desire to mock centralised power, hoping that his work will show the public that although power does exist and works against you, that power is not terribly efficient and it can and should be deceived.<ref name = "HPBanksy" />

Banksy's works have dealt with an array of political and social themes, including [[anti-War]], [[anti-capitalism]], [[anti-fascism]], [[anti-imperialism]], [[anti-authoritarianism]], [[anarchism]], [[nihilism]], and [[existentialism]]. Additionally, the components of the [[human condition]] that his works commonly critique are [[greed]], [[poverty]], [[hypocrisy]], [[boredom]], [[Despair (emotion)|despair]], [[absurdity]], and [[Social alienation|alienation]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Jonathon Keats |url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/jonathonkeats/2012/08/03/why-banksy-deserves-an-olympic-gold-more-than-usain-bolt/ |title=Why Banksy Deserves An Olympic Gold More Than Usain Bolt – Forbes |publisher=Forbes.com |date=3 August 2012 |accessdate=1 January 2013}}</ref> Although Banksy's works usually rely on visual imagery and iconography to put forth his message, he has made several politically related comments in his various books. In summarising his list of "people who should be shot," he listed "Fascist thugs, religious fundamentalists, (and) people who write lists telling you who should be shot."<ref>''Wall and Piece'', by Banksy, 2006, Century, ISBN 1-84413-787-2, pg 110</ref> While facetiously describing his political nature, Banksy declared that "Sometimes I feel so sick at the state of the world, I can't even finish my second apple pie."<ref>''Wall and Piece'', by Banksy, 2006, Century, ISBN 1-84413-787-2, pg 155</ref>

== Identity ==
There have been numerous rumours and hypotheses as to Banksy's identity. Names often suggested include Robert Banks and Robin Gunningham.<ref>{{cite news |title=Graffiti artist Banksy unmasked ... as a former public schoolboy from middle-class suburbia |author=Claudia Joseph |date=12 July 2008 |work=Mail Online.com |url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1034538/Graffiti-artist-Banksy-unmasked---public-schoolboy-middle-class-suburbia.html |accessdate=4 November 2011 |location=London}}</ref>

In 2004, an alleged photograph of him in [[Jamaica]] at the Two-Culture Clash Project surfaced. In October 2007, a story on the BBC website featured a photo allegedly taken by a passer-by in [[Bethnal Green]], London, purporting to show Banksy at work with an assistant, scaffolding and a truck. The story confirms that [[Tower Hamlets Council]] in London has decided to treat all Banksy works as [[vandalism]] and remove them.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/7069870.stm BBC News Website – Artist Banksy 'captured in photo'] BBC News 30 October 2007</ref> Through the pictures, Banksy's identity was speculated to be Robin Gunningham, a man born in [[Bristol]] on 28 July 1973. Gunningham was educated at [[Bristol Cathedral Choir School]], and, according to a former friend, was "extremely talented at art." Gunningham lived with artist Luke Egan. Around 2000, when Banksy moved from Bristol to London, Gunningham is known to have moved from Bristol to a London flat in [[London Borough of Hackney|Hackney]], and a number of Banksy's most famous works appeared nearby. At that time, Gunningham lived with Jamie Eastman, who worked for a record label that used illustrations by Banksy.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/5346822.stm|title=Real name: Robert Banks, 32 years old in 2006 (BBC)|work=BBC News  |date=15 September 2006|accessdate=26 January 2009| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20090111180057/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/5346822.stm| archivedate= 11 January 2009 | deadurl= no}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Charlotte |last=Cripps |url=http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/article80725.ece |title=Graffiti with bells on – This Britain, UK  |work=The Independent |location=UK |date=1 December 2003 |accessdate=26 January 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Lee |last=Taylor |url=http://www.news.com.au/travel/news/banksy-art-appears-on-londons-princess-of-wales-pub/story-e6frfq80-1225879898665 |title=Banksy art appears on London's Princess of Wales pub |publisher=[[News Limited]] |date=16 June 2010 |accessdate=16 June 2010 | location=London| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20100617195346/http://www.news.com.au/travel/news/banksy-art-appears-on-londons-princess-of-wales-pub/story-e6frfq80-1225879898665| archivedate= 17 June 2010 | deadurl= no}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/visual_arts/article2774359.ece |title=Banksy, the celebrated graffiti artist, is caught in the act for first time |first=Patrick |last=Foster |work=The Times |location=UK |date=31 October 2007 |accessdate=26 January 2009 }}</ref>

In May 2009, the ''Mail on Sunday'' once again speculated about Gunningham being Banksy after a "self-portrait" of a rat holding a sign with the face of the man on the 2004 photo shot on it was photographed in East London.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1180361/Banksy-revealed-Graffiti-artist-paints-self-portrait-London-office-block.html |title=Banksy revealed? Graffiti artist paints first ever 'self-portrait' on London office block |work=Daily Mail |location=UK |date=11 May 2009}}</ref> This "new Banksy rat" story was also picked up by ''[[The Times]]''<ref>{{cite news|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/visual_arts/article6262163.ece|title=Artist Banksy creates 'self-portrait' on East London office block|work=The Times |location=UK|date=11 May 2009|accessdate=26 April 2010|first1=Fiona|last1=Hamilton|first2=Sam|last2=Coates|first3=Michael|last3=Savage}}</ref> and the ''[[Evening Standard]]''.

In response to reports that Banksy was Robin Gunningham, Banksy's agent refused to either confirm or deny the reports.<ref name="MailUnmasked">{{cite news|first=Claudia|last=Joseph|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1034538/Graffiti-artist-Banksy-unmasked---public-schoolboy-middle-class-suburbia.html|title=Graffiti artist Banksy unmasked|work=Daily Mail |location=UK |date=13 July 2008|accessdate=26 January 2009 | archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20090204124256/http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1034538/Graffiti-artist-Banksy-unmasked---public-schoolboy-middle-class-suburbia.html| archivedate= 4 February 2009 | deadurl= no}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7504132.stm|title=Paper 'reveals Banksy's identity'|work=BBC News  |date=13 July 2008|accessdate=26 January 2009| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20090122071616/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7504132.stm| archivedate= 22 January 2009 | deadurl= no}}</ref>

Simon Hattenstone from ''[[The Guardian]]'' is one of the very few people to have interviewed him face to face. Hattenstone describes him as "a cross of [[Jimmy Nail]] and British rapper [[Mike Skinner (musician)|Mike Skinner]]" and "a 28-year old male who showed up wearing jeans and a t-shirt with a silver tooth, silver chain, and one silver earring."<ref name="GuardianInt">{{cite news|url=http://arts.guardian.co.uk/features/story/0,,999712,00.html |first=Simon |last=Hattenstone |title=Something to spray |work=The Guardian |location=UK |date=17 July 2003 |accessdate=26 January 2009 }}</ref> In the same interview, Banksy claimed that his parents think he is a painter and decorator.<ref name="GuardianInt" />

Banksy himself states on his website: {{quote|I am unable to comment on who may or may not be Banksy, but anyone described as being 'good at drawing' doesn't sound like Banksy to me.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.banksy.co.uk/menu.html |title=Banksy's own website |publisher=Banksy |accessdate=26 January 2009| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20090130094335/http://banksy.co.uk/menu.html| archivedate= 30 January 2009 | deadurl= no}}</ref>}}

== Critics ==
Peter Gibson, a spokesman for [[Keep Britain Tidy]], asserts that Banksy's work is simple vandalism,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.briansewell.com/artist/b-artist/banksy/banksy-biography.html |title=Banksy biography |work=Brian Sewell Art Directory (briansewell.com) |date=4 August 2005 |accessdate=26 January 2009| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20090215230943/http://briansewell.com/artist/b-artist/banksy/banksy-biography.html| archivedate= 15 February 2009 | deadurl= no}}</ref> and Diane Shakespeare, an official for the same organisation, was quoted as saying: "We are concerned that Banksy's street art glorifies what is essentially vandalism."<ref name="NYBanksyWasHere" /> In his column for ''[[The Guardian]]'', satirist [[Charlie Brooker]] wrote of Banksy "…his work looks dazzlingly clever to idiots."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2006/sep/22/arts.visualarts |title=Supposing ... Subversive genius Banksy is actually rubbish |work=Charlie Brooker (guardian.co.uk) |date=22 September 2006 |accessdate=31 January 2011 |location=London}}</ref>

He has also been long criticised for copying the work of [[Blek le Rat]], creator of the life-sized stencil technique in early 1980s Paris. Blek's own response to such criticism has been varied. He has expressed pleasure at being an inspiration to "an artist that good,"<ref name=Coan /> and in early 2011 was seen adding to a mural initiated by Banksy in San Francisco.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.missionmission.org/2011/03/17/blek-le-rat-meets-banksy-in-the-mission/ |title=Blek le Rat meets Banksy in the Mission |author=Wong, Vic |date=17 March 2011 |work=MissionMission.org |accessdate=15 August 2011}}</ref>
However, Blek expressed a different perspective later that same year, in the documentary ''Graffiti Wars'', stating: {{quote|When I see Banksy making a man with a child or Banksy making rats, of course I see immediately where he takes the idea. I do feel angry. When you're an artist you use your own techniques. It's difficult to find a technique and style in art so when you have a style and you see someone else is taking it and reproducing it, you don't like that. I'm not sure about his integrity. Maybe he has to show his face now and show what kind of guy he is."<ref name=Sanderson>{{cite news |url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2025790/Banquesy-The-Frenchman--known-Blek-le-Rat--accusing-Banky-stealing-guerilla-art-style.html |title=Banquesy: The Frenchman – known as Blek le Rat – accusing Banky of stealing his 'guerilla art' style |author=Sanderson, Elizabeth |date=13 August 2011 |location=London |work=Daily Mail  |accessdate=15 August 2011}}</ref>}}

== See also ==
* [[Parachuting Rat]]
* [[Works by Banksy damaged or destroyed]]
* [[Detachment of wall paintings]]
* [[List of urban artists]]
* [[Street art]]
* [[@earth]]
* [[King Robbo]]
* [[Blek le Rat]]
* [[Above (artist)|ABOVE]]
* [[Mr. Brainwash]]

== Bibliography ==
Banksy has [[self-published]] several books that contain photographs of his work in various countries as well as some of his canvas work and exhibitions, accompanied by his own writings:
* Banksy, ''Banging Your Head Against a Brick Wall'' (2001) ISBN 978-0-9541704-0-0
* Banksy, ''Existencilism'' (2002) ISBN 978-0-9541704-1-7
* Banksy, ''Cut It Out'' (2004) ISBN 978-0-9544960-0-5
* Banksy, ''Wall and Piece'' (2005) ISBN 978-1-84413-786-2
* Banksy, ''Pictures of Walls'' (2005) ISBN 978-0-9551946-0-3
* Banksy, ''You Are an Acceptable Level of Threat'' (2012) ISBN 978-1908211088

[[Random House]] published ''Wall and Piece'' in 2005. It contains a combination of images from his three previous books, as well as some new material. The book was a best seller in the arts category for several years after its release.<ref>Tom Tivnan, [http://www.thebookseller.com/feature/art-matter.html ''Art of the matter''], The Book Seller, 8 June 2009. Retrieved 2 December 2011.</ref>

Books about his work, authored by others:
* Ulrich Blanché, ''Something to s(pr)ay: Der Street Artivist Banksy. Eine kunstwissenschaftliche Untersuchung'' (2010), ISBN 978-3-8288-2283-2
* Martin Bull, [http://books.google.com/books?id=Vfnk4ROcGIEC&printsec=frontcover ''Banksy Locations and Tours: A Collection of Graffiti Locations and Photographs in London''] (2006 – with new editions in 2007, 2008 and 2010), ISBN 978-0-9554712-4-7.
* Will Elsworth-Jones, ''Banksy, the Man behind the Wall'' (2012), ISBN 978-1-8451369-9-4.
* Paul Gough (ed), ''Banksy, the Bristol Legacy'' (2012), ISBN 978-1-906593-96-4.
* Steve Wright, ''Banksy's Bristol: Home Sweet Home'', Tangent Books (2007), ISBN 978-1-906477-00-4
* Mirko Reisser, Gerrit Peters, Heiko Zahlmann, ''Urban Discipline 2002: Graffiti-Art'', getting-up / Germany (2002) ISBN 3-00-009421-0

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{commons|Banksy}}
{{wikiquote}}
* {{Official website|http://www.banksy.co.uk/menu.html}}
* [http://www.pestcontroloffice.com Pest Control] – official Banksy authentication
* [http://www.artofthestate.co.uk/Banksy/banksy.htm Banksy Street Art Photos]
* [http://www.banksyunmasked.co.uk Gallery of Banksy photos]
* {{Discogs artist|Banksy}}
* {{IMDb name|2612991}}
* [http://www.flickr.com/groups/banksy/pool/ Banksy Images]&nbsp;– from ''[[Flickr]]''
* [http://www.artnet.com/artist/424007326/banksy.html Banksy Works]&nbsp;– from ''[[Artnet]]''
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/image_galleries/banksy_gallery.shtml Banksy Gallery]&nbsp;– by ''[[BBC News]]''
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/bristol/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8096000/8096891.stm Banksy v Bristol Museum]&nbsp;– slideshow by ''[[BBC]]''
* [http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/14983,news-comment,news-politics,banksy-in-pictures Banksy Under the Hammer]&nbsp;– slideshow by ''[[The First Post]]''
* [http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/9757,news-comment,news-politics,banksy-on-the-west-bank Banksy on the West Bank]&nbsp;– slideshow by ''[[The First Post]]''
* [http://www.newyorker.com/online/2007/05/14/slideshow_070514_banksy#slide=1 Banksy: In Plain Sight]&nbsp;– exhibition slideshow by ''[[The New Yorker]]''
* [http://www.stencilrevolution.com/profiles/about-banksy/ Stencil Revolution About Banksy]
* [http://www.britishtours.com/360/banksy-one-nation-under-cctv/ Banksy's One Nation Under CCTV, Quicktime VR]

{{Culture in Bristol}}

{{Authority control|VIAF=51384525}}

{{Persondata
| NAME              = Banksy
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = English graffiti artist, political activist and painter, whose identity is unconfirmed
| DATE OF BIRTH     = c. between 1970 and 1975
| PLACE OF BIRTH    = [[Banksy#2011|Bristol]]
| DATE OF DEATH     =
| PLACE OF DEATH    =
}}
[[Category:Banksy]]
[[Category:English graffiti artists]]
[[Category:Culture jamming]]
[[Category:Public art]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Street artists]]
[[Category:People from Bristol]]
[[Category:English activists]]
[[Category:Anonymous artists]]
[[Category:Pseudonymous artists]]
[[Category:English film directors]]
[[Category:English anarchists]]
[[Category:English painters]]
[[Category:Guerilla artists]]
[[Category:Unidentified people]]