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Banksy

British

205k followers

Banksy

Bio

British

Followers
205k
Biography

Whether plastering cities with his trademark parachuting rat, painting imagined openings in the West Bank barrier in Israel, or stenciling “We’re bored of fish” above a penguins’ zoo enclosure, Banksy creates street art with an irreverent wit and an international reputation that precedes his anonymous identity. “TV has made going to the theatre seem pointless, photography has pretty much killed painting,” he says, “but graffiti has remained gloriously unspoilt by progress.” Banksy has gained his notoriety through a range of urban interventions, from modifying street signs and printing his own currency to illegally hanging his own works in institutions such as the Louvre and the Museum of Modern Art. Most often using spray paint and stencils, Banksy has crafted a signature, immediately identifiable graphic style—and a recurring cast of cops, soldiers, children, and celebrities—through which he critically examines contemporary issues of consumerism, political authority, terrorism, and the status of art and its display.

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Career Highlights
Learn more about artist insights.
Auction
High auction record
£10m, Sotheby's, 2019
Publication
Reviewed by a major art publication
The Guardian, and 1 more
Biography

Whether plastering cities with his trademark parachuting rat, painting imagined openings in the West Bank barrier in Israel, or stenciling “We’re bored of fish” above a penguins’ zoo enclosure, Banksy creates street art with an irreverent wit and an international reputation that precedes his anonymous identity. “TV has made going to the theatre seem pointless, photography has pretty much killed painting,” he says, “but graffiti has remained gloriously unspoilt by progress.” Banksy has gained his notoriety through a range of urban interventions, from modifying street signs and printing his own currency to illegally hanging his own works in institutions such as the Louvre and the Museum of Modern Art. Most often using spray paint and stencils, Banksy has crafted a signature, immediately identifiable graphic style—and a recurring cast of cops, soldiers, children, and celebrities—through which he critically examines contemporary issues of consumerism, political authority, terrorism, and the status of art and its display.

Career Highlights
Learn more about artist insights.
Auction
High auction record
£10m, Sotheby's, 2019
Publication
Reviewed by a major art publication
The Guardian, and 1 more
Shows Featuring Banksy
Articles Featuring Banksy
What Collectors Need to Know about Banksy’s Market
Sep 23rd, 2020
What Collectors Need to Know about Banksy’s Market
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Sep 14th, 2020
10 In-Demand Works on Artsy This Week
10 In-Demand Works on Artsy This Week
Sep 7th, 2020
10 In-Demand Works on Artsy This Week
5 Artists to Follow if You Like Banksy
Aug 11th, 2020
5 Artists to Follow if You Like Banksy
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