Of the numerous feats that Banksy has accomplished over the course of his career as an international artist, activist and filmmaker, perhaps the most astonishing is that while he is among the most famous figures in street art, he has managed to remain completely anonymous.
There is a method behind the madness, however. Banksy maintains that he chooses to conceal his identity to make a more democratic impact with his work, the themes of which include criticism of world leaders, consumerism and terrorism.
Although not much is known about Banksy — he sent a photo of himself with a paper bag on his head to Time magazine for a profile — it is believed that he was born in the city of Bristol, in southwest England, circa 1974. Wit, irreverence, dark humor and activism come together in his work, which spans graffiti, paintings, prints, sculptures and filmmaking. (His film, Exit Through the Gift Shop, which focuses on another street artist known as Mr. Brainwash, was nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the 2010 Academy Awards.)
Banksy began as a graffiti artist in his hometown in the early 1990s. He has found fame for his stenciled and spray-painted pieces, which are most often rooted in anti-war or antiestablishment messaging, appearing in cities such as London, New York and Los Angeles and for his “stunts” that are intended to subvert and provoke the art world. One particularly memorable stunt took place in 2018, when, as soon as one of his paintings sold at auction — Girl with a Balloon, which fetched an extraordinary $1.4 million — it self-destructed and proceeded to partially shred itself. Banksy even snuck into the Louvre and hung his own version of the Mona Lisa in 2006. Despite his elusive persona and commitment to bringing art to the masses, Banksy is one of the most coveted artists at auctions across the world.
And his work is undeniably impactful.
At a record-breaking auction organized by Damien Hirst, Bono and others to benefit AIDS charities in 2008, Banksy’s Keep It Spotless — a modified Hirst painting — fetched nearly $2 million. In May of 2020, Banksy donated Game Changer, a painting that honors UK healthcare workers, to Southampton General Hospital. When it went to auction in 2021, it sold for more than $23 million at Christie's in London. All proceeds went to the National Health Service.
Find original Banksy art for sale on 1stDibs.
$10,640
H 15.56 in W 44.3 in D 6.7 in
Hand-Painted Banksy 3D Sculpture, Signed, 21st Century Art
By Patrick Hughes
Located in Bristol, GB
Hand painted 3D multiple with archival inkjet Edition 35 of 100 Mint, as issued Signed and numbered on the front
Archival Ink
$4,800
H 20 in W 40 in
"Sgt. Pepper Jack" British Flag Union Jack Contemporary Minimal Bright Oil Paint
By Charlotte Andry Gibbs
Located in Wellesley, MA
"Sgt. Pepper Jack," Acrylic on Linen 20 x 40 Inches Charlotte Gibbs’ "flag" and "star" paintings often reference the artist's interest in Pop art and sometimes incorporate 23 karat gold leaf in addition to oil paint, but not always. With its depiction of a graphically idealized British flag and obvious reference to the Beatles, "Sgt. Pepper Jack" is at once lovely and Pop. Beautifully painted and exquisitely executed, these elegant works of rich color are sophisticated examples of Gibbs' ability to invoke whimsy and can be read equally as pure geometric abstraction, and the artist's simple slightly distressed white wood frames are the perfect complement . Also available are "Union Jack...
Acrylic
$16,500
H 19.3 in W 25.6 in
Internacional, Paco Pomet, From Banksy Dismaland, 2014 Limited Edition
By Paco Pomet
Located in Draper, UT
Paco Pomet, Internacional, 2014, limited edition of 60. Original edition. Made famous from Banksy's Dismaland. Framed and ready to display. Screenprint with dimensions of 49 cm x 6...
Screen
Mr. Brainwash "Banksy Thrower" Mixed Media Print
By Mr. Brainwash
Located in Boston, MA
Artist: Brainwash, Mr. Title: Banksy Thrower Date: 2023 Medium: Silkscreen and Mixed Media on Paper Unframed Dimensions: 22" x 22" Framed Dimensions: 28" x 28" Signature: Sign...
Mixed Media, Screen
$4,005Sale Price|20% Off
H 4.73 in W 3.94 in D 3.94 in
BANKSY (after) - Wall Souvenir - From the Walled Off Hotel
By Banksy
Located in PARIS, FR
Collection: Unsigned and marked with a unique reference number on the underside. New although some imperfections may exist given the nature of the material. Sold with the original receipt from WOH. About: Miniature concrete souvenir sculpture, hand painted by local artists Open edition. The Souvenir Wall Section consists of a mini stretch of separation wall decorated with recreations of well-loved graffiti. Lovingly hand painted by local craftspeople. Made from enhanced polymer resin on a stone plinth extracted from the dividing wall. Graffiti artist Banksy...
Concrete
Kate Moss Postcard
By Banksy
Located in Manchester, GB
After Banksy, Kate Moss Postcard, 2005 Offset Lithograph on postcard. Rare Kate Moss postcard originally released in 2005 for Banksy's Crude Oils exhibition of remixed masterpiece...
Paper
$6,875
H 12.5 in W 12.5 in D 0.25 in
Banksy - We Love You...So Love Us Flower Bomber Silkscreen Album Cover & LP rare
By Banksy
Located in New York, NY
Various artists We Love You...So Love Us, 2000 We Love You – AMOUR 1 LP Cover art credit: Banksy Album cover with vinyl record inside Vinyl record held silkscreened album cover 12 1/...
Plastic, Mixed Media, Board, Screen
Banksy, Wall and Piece
Located in Bradenton, FL
Wall and Piece by Banksy. Published in 2006 by Century. Softcover, 240 pages.
Paper
$3,774
H 17.64 in W 23.23 in
Framed Glitter Union Flag Screen Print, Signed, Edition 77/100
By Peter Blake
Located in Bristol, GB
Screen print in colours with glitter on wove paper Edition 77 of 100 44.8 x 59 cm (17.6 x 23.2 in) (Frame 49 x 63 x 3.5 cm, 19.3 x 24.8 x 1.4 in) Signed and numbered on the front Min...
Screen, Glitter
Static Love Stencil Art Print Son of Mr. Brainwash
By Hijack
Located in Draper, UT
Signed and Numbered by the Artist who is the son of Mr. Brainwash A six-color screen-print on hand-torn archival art paper. Each print is signed and numbered by the artist. Editi...
Spray Paint, Screen, Stencil
No Words (Ed. 2/30)
By Fanakapan
Located in Dallas, TX
Fanakapan is a prolific street artist who creates 3D visuals of real life objects, most notably, helium balloons. His mind-bending, hyper-realistic artworks have earned him the monik...
Giclée
Let Them Eat - Cake
By Penny
Located in Dallas, TX
16 layer hand cut stencil, spray paint on genuine 10 Pound banknote, C-Type semi gloss printed detail, signed and dated edition of 10 2 7/8 x 5 3/4 in 7.2 x 14.5 cm Edition of 10 plu...
Spray Paint, Tissue Paper, Stencil
Classik Box
By Blek Le Rat
Located in Dallas, TX
Classikbox – 2016 by Blek the rat Art casing – Ed.100 Containing 3 serigraphs Ed.100 The man who walks through walls / Madonna and Child / Beggar Screen-p...
Plexiglass, Screen
LIBERTÉ ÉGALITÉ FRATERNITÉ I
By Faith 47
Located in Dallas, TX
EDITION SIZE : 99 Edition 2/99 DIMENSIONS : 83 cm x 60 cm (32.67 inches x 23.62 inches) PAPER : BFK Rives 270 g. TECHNIQUE : Lithographs on stone...
Stone
LA Hands
Located in Dallas, TX
Hand-Embellished Signature LA Hands Print. Blue and White Edition Signed
Spray Paint, Archival Pigment
Lunar State
By Heliobray
Located in Dallas, TX
'I want to share with you an exciting new piece of art that I have developed using a silver acrylic sheet, inspired by the moon. This artwork explores the theme of celestial bodies a...
Spray Paint, Acrylic, Pigment, Mirror
