Banksy is the pseudonym of a British street artist, political activist and film director whose identity has never been publicly confirmed. Active since the 1990s, his work developed from the underground scene in Bristol. He is known for satirical and subversive works that combine dark humour, graffiti and a distinctive stencil technique. His art frequently addresses political and social subjects and appears on streets, walls and bridges around the world.
Banksy began his career as a freehand graffiti artist, working between 1990 and 1994 as a member of Bristol’s DryBreadZ Crew alongside artists known as Kato and Tes. He was part of the wider Bristol underground scene, where he met photographer Steve Lazarides, who later became his agent. Around 2000, Banksy turned to stencilling because the technique allowed him to complete works more quickly. One of his first known large-scale murals was The Mild Mild West, created in Bristol in 1997.
His stencils frequently depict rats, apes, police officers, soldiers, children and elderly people, while their themes and messages address subjects including war, capitalism and the establishment. During the 2000s, he began exhibiting in galleries and expanding his work beyond the traditional street-art format. Exhibitions including Existencilism in Los Angeles, Turf War in London and Barely Legal in Los Angeles broadened his artistic output. In 2008, he organised The Cans Festival in London’s Leake Street tunnel, inviting stencil artists from around the world to participate.
In 2005, Banksy created nine works on the Israeli West Bank wall, while in 2008 he produced a series of works in New Orleans marking the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. In 2009, the major exhibition Banksy vs Bristol Museum opened at Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery. During its twelve-week run, the exhibition attracted more than 300,000 visitors.
Banksy has also worked in film, directing the documentary Exit Through the Gift Shop. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2010 and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2011. His work continues to be associated with political and social commentary, while anonymity remains an important part of his public identity. His artworks have been subject to public interest, removal and resale on the art market, while a limited number of works are officially sold through the agency Pest Control.
