Banksy

Banksy (b. 1974) is a graffiti artist from Bristol, UK, whose artwork has appeared throughout the streets of London and other locations around the world. Though Banksy’s true identity is unknown, his artwork has become a staple in street art and politics. His works mainly use stencils on public buildings but he has also worked with sculpture, London telephone booths, and more recently, canvases and prints.

In addition to raising political and judicial awareness, Banksy is also known for pulling pranks where he hangs his own paintings in front of masterpieces in the most famous museums in the world. He has successfully done this in London’s Tate Modern, New York Museum of Modern Art, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Brooklyn Museum and the American Museum of Natural History.

Banksy has published five books and starred in a documentary, Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010), about the popularity of street art and up and coming French street artist, Mr. Brainwash.