BANKSY 1990

Name: Acts under the pseudonym Banksy

Born: Unknown

Home Town: Unknown

Style: Saterical Street Artist / Political activist

Exhibits: Mayfair-London, Suffolk, Banksy Exhibition, Covent Garden

Why I like him: He conveys such powerful artwork, but has to remain anonymous as his work is often controversial, and painted on public areas and buildings.

History:

•Anonymity is crucial as graffiti is illegal

•Banksy is commonly believed to be Robin Gunningham, he later adopted the name of Robin Banks which then turned into Banksy.

•There have been corroborations that his works are similar to those seen and his whereabouts has been where new installations have appeared.

•Active since 1990’s and combines dark humour with graffiti

•Stencilling technique

•Public installations are regularly removed and resold

•Banksy created an agency called Pest Control to be able to sell a small number of his works officially, but non-publicly

•Age of 14 was expelled from school and even spent time in prison for petty crime

•In 2018 he produced Love Is In The Bin where one of his works were sold at auction and immediately the frame shredded the picture!

•2015 Dismaland bemusement park focussed on the many disappointing temporary themed attractions in the UK

•2009 – Devolved Parliament depicted MP’s as chimpanzees

•2020 – Painting for Saints depicted a child playing with a nurse as a superhero

•2021 – Great British Spraycation - covered a number of towns in East Anglia

THE GREAT SPRAYCATION 2021

In the Summer of 2021, Banksy made his mark in Norfolk and Suffolk celebrating the times we were faced with. COVID had struck and we had all spent too much time at home. It was a joy to be able to tour his work around this area and talk to the locals about how they were created. The hairdressers around the corner to the Seagull, said he just came along and erected scaffolding, working behind the coverings in broad daylight. No one suspected a thing!

painting for saints 2020

An incredibly fitting and moving stencil from Banksy. He gets right to the heart of the feeling of everyone in the country at the right time.

love is in the bin 2018

From one of Banksy's most iconic and recognisable 'Girl with a Balloon' to partially shredding his own work at auction with a hidden shredder in the frame which increased it's value beyond expectations. The guy is a genius!