Perhaps the most famous figure in street art working today, Banksy is known for urban interventions that demonstrate irreverent wit and a biting political edge. Enhancing his mystique by maintaining an anonymous identity, the artist has modified street signs, illegally printed their own currency, and illicitly hung their work in the Louvre and the Museum of Modern Art. There is no limit to what Banksy will do, creating works anywhere in the world.
He often uses spray paint and stencils in his critiques of consumerism, political authority, terrorism, and the status of art and its display. Banksy’s well-known use of animal motifs in an anthropomorphic way, the work can both make you laugh and contemplate. Banksy’s work also has a charitable side, as he has raised money for Palestine, Ukraine, and refugees through releases such as the Welcome Mat in collaboration with the charity Love Welcomes. Find a work that suits your sensibilities in our collection.
About Banksy
Rising from the Bristol underground scene, Banksy has gained global recognition, bringing street art and graffiti into public conversation across the world. Banksy’s street art, installations, and studio-produced works have been shown in Los Angeles, New York, London, Bethlehem, and beyond. Still an unknown figure, Banksy continues to elude arrest and share their often political musings and critiques through street art throughout the UK. His art has been subject to widespread interest on the secondary market and has fetched eight figures at auction.
His work moved from the streets to print publishing work with Pictures on Walls (POW), growing Banksy into a commercial artist producing official limited edition prints of his most iconic works. This offered a democratisation of art ownership as Banksy became not just an accessible artist on the street but also to own in your home, growing his popularity by offering work directly to the public.
Iconic Series and Artworks
Banksy’s most iconic work is arguably the Girl with Balloon. Known by some for its themes of innocence and loss, as the girl depicted loses a heart-shaped balloon to the wind. Although perhaps better known for going through a shredder, as the final hammer price of ~£1 million in 2018 was established at Sotheby’s auction in 2018, otherwise known as Love is in the Bin. This shook the art world and the approach of selling Banksy works, as he highlighted a disparagement of the auction world through his critique of value.
Banky’s work is often political in its subject matter, with Flower Thrower (aka "Love is in the Air") highlighting non-violent protest painted originally on a wall near the Israeli West Bank barrier. Kissing Coppers is another work that is imbued with politics, challenging law enforcement and celebrating the queer culture in Brighton, UK, where this was painted. Both of these works can be viewed in a lighthearted and positive way, but both have deep political undertones. It is this duality that creates a level of intrigue in Banksy’s work as he plays with social norms with an ironic humour, with strong underlying critiques.
Banksy references canonical work in a way that both critiques and celebrates art history. This was demonstrated in his Crude Oils exhibition in 2005, where he reworked Vincent Van Gogh’s bright depiction of wilted flowers in Sunflowers from Petrol Station, or added a discarded trolley in the waterlilies of Show Me the Monet. Banksy’s humour continues to question Andy Warhol’s critique of consumerism, creating a modern interpretation in his Tesco Value Soup Can. Through all his series, you can see many reasons to buy a Banksy.
Artistic Techniques and Themes
Whilst Banksy’s direct methods of practice remain unknown, his use of stencils and spray paint allows for rapid deployment of detailed and well-thought-out compositions. Such as how Banksy incorporates a freezer as part of Valentine’s Day Mascara, to create a mixed media installation or the depiction of Flying Balloon Girl takes an image of childlike aspiration, has an increased political meaning as it is depicted on the West Bank barrier in Palestine and creates an additional meaning of freedom and escape. Banksy explores themes of anti-authoritarianism, consumerism, and social justice through the imagery, the materials and the location, creating multilayered works in every way.
Art Market and Investment
Banksy is a highly collected artist who took what was once considered vandalism and is now one of the most exciting and fastest-growing sectors of the contemporary art market.
Banksy’s stunts and visuals are widely regarded in the art world as Love is in the Bin has only increased in price since the shredding of Girl with Balloon at Sotheby’s in 2018, and sold in 2021 for £18.58 million. With other record highs, including Game Changer sold for over £16 mil and Sunflowers from Petrol Station for over £10 mil.
With all of the cultural significance and an undeniable record of great worth means that when purchasing Banksy, you are not just purchasing an art piece; you are owning a piece of contemporary cultural history produced by an artist that does things differently, brings awareness, and consistently has high demand and investment potential.
Authenticity and Provenance
For a numbered Banksy work to be authenticated and acknowledged by the artist, it must have a COA (Certificate of Authenticity) from Pest Control. This is a body that was established in 2008 with the specific intention of preventing fakes in the market. Like the artist himself, Pest Control also remains anonymous and works as a proxy to keep Banksy’s identity hidden while creating trust and transparency in Banksy’s art market. Our FairArt guarantee offers reassurance that the works you are buying have been checked and authenticated by our team. If you need help knowing whether your work needs a COA, reach out to our team on live chat or support@fairart.io, and we will be happy to help.