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.
$1,900
H 10 in W 10 in D 1.75 in
Walled Off Hotel Boxed Set Assemblage w/original embossed receipt from Bethlehem
By Banksy
Located in New York, NY
Banksy (after) Walled Off Hotel Boxed Set Assemblage, 2018 Mixed Media assemblage: unique piece of concrete/cement wall with framed lithograph. Accompanied by original embossed rece...
Concrete
$2,573Sale 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
$3,906Sale 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
$2,800Sale Price|20% Off
H 4.57 in W 5.52 in D 2.56 in
Banksy Walled Off Hotel Flower Thrower Separation Wall Sculpture, 2017
By Banksy
Located in Englishtown, NJ
Super iconic and instantly recognizable Flower Thrower image featured on this Banksy Walled Off Hotel separation wall sculpture. This image was originally painted by Banksy in the We...
Stone
$2,297
H 23.23 in W 16.34 in
Banksy - "Visit historic Pales" - color offset lithography - dry stamp
By Banksy
Located in Winterswijk, NL
Shipping costs are calculated individually. This poster was created by Banksy exclusively for the Walled Off Hotel. It is available exclusively at the Walled Off Hotel in Bethlehem a...
Paper, Color
Banksy, Wall and Piece
Located in Bradenton, FL
Wall and Piece by Banksy. Published in 2006 by Century. Softcover, 240 pages.
Paper
$10,665
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
$349,950
H 22.05 in W 29.92 in
Banksy Barely Legal Set of 6 Screen Prints, Unsigned, 2006, Pest Control COA
By Banksy
Located in Aventura, FL
Banksy's Barely Legal is a set of six screen prints on paper named after the Barely Legal exhibition held in 2006 in a warehouse in Los Angeles. From the unsigned edition and each numbered 59/500 (there are also 17 artist's proofs). Published by Modern Multiples Fine Art Editions, Los Angeles, with Pictures on Walls and the publisher's blindstamp. Pest Control authentication certificates included. The Barely Legal Set includes the following: Grannies (22.05 x 29.92 inches) Sale Ends (22.05 x 29.92 inches) Applause (29.92 x 44.89 inches) Trolleys (22.05 x 29.92 inches) Festival (22.05 x 29.92 inches) Morons (22.05 x 29.92 inches) About the Artist: Banksy (British, born 1974) is a contemporary street artist and activist who, despite his international fame, has maintained an anonymous identity. Aimed as a form of cultural criticism, the artist often targets established social and political agendas with his witty illustrations produced with stencils and spray paint in cities such as New Orleans, New York, and Paris. “The art world is the biggest joke,” he said. “It’s a rest home of the over privileged, the pretentious, and the weak.” Although details of the artist’s life are largely unknown, it is thought that Banksy was born in Bristol, United Kingdom, c. 1974, starting his career as a graffiti artist in the city. Better Out Than In, Banksy’s month-long residency in New York during October 2013, featured a man hawking the artist’s paintings for $60 a piece outside Central Park. In 2015, Banksy opened Dismaland Bemusement Park, a temporary art exhibition that functioned as a theme park. After a 36-day run, its workers and materials were sent to the Calais migrant camp in France to build additional housing. Among the artist's most famous stunts include his shredded painting: When a painting by Banksy was sold at auction for $1.4 million in 2018, a mechanism was triggered to cause the artwork to partially destroy itself, resulting in a new piece titled Love in the Bin (2018). The ongoing question as to who Banksy is continued to reach the headlines when in 2017 Robert Del Naja...
Paper, Screen
$7,200Sale Price|20% Off
H 19.69 in W 13 in
Apopriation: Banksy Oil Painting on Gesso Wood Panel, Framed, 2010+
By Zoe Moss
Located in New York, NY
Oil Paint on Gesso Wood Panel Part of Zoe Moss new series Apopriation The painting comes framed with a black scoop frame with gold trim 40 x 50 cm unframed 50 x 60 cm framed ‘Apo...
Oil, Wood Panel
$440Sale Price|20% Off
H 23.63 in W 19.69 in
Banksy Print by Zoe Moss, Limited Edition, Signed, Pop Art, 50x60cm
By Zoe Moss
Located in New York, NY
Fine art pigment print 50cm x 60cm Limited Edition of 100 Signed and embossed by the artist
Archival Pigment
Mr Brainwash -- Balloon Girl, Screenprint in Mixed Media, Unique, Signed
By Mr. Brainwash
Located in BRUCE, ACT
Mr Brainwash Balloon Girl, 2022 Screenprint in colours and mixed media Hand signed in ink lower right, hand signed and dated on the reverse Inscribed 'UNQ21218', with a drawing (...
Acrylic, Screen
Mr Brainwash -- Hope
By Mr. Brainwash
Located in BRUCE, ACT
Mr Brainwash Hope, 2020 Screenprint Hand signed in pencil, dated with a fingerprint on the reverse Numbered PP 3/5 Image size: 71 x 51 cm Sheet size: 76.5 × 57 cm
Screen
Emily Mae Smith -- Chekhov's Gun
Located in BRUCE, ACT
Emily Mae Smith Chekhov's Gun, 2017 Screenprint in colours, on Coventry Rag paper, with full margins. Signed, dated and numbered 61/75 in pencil, Image 56 x 43.2 cm Sheet 61.2 x 45....
Screen
Michel Delacroix -- A La Manille
By Michel Delacroix
Located in BRUCE, ACT
Michel Delacroix A La Manille Original lithograph Hand signed in pencil lower right Edition EA lower left Image size: 48 x 57 cm Sheet size: 56 x 76 cm A La Manille is a very earl...
Lithograph
Mr Brainwash -- Live Today Worry Tomorrow
By Mr. Brainwash
Located in BRUCE, ACT
Mr Brainwash Live Today Worry Tomorrow, 2010 Screenprint Hand signed in pencil, dated with a fingerprint on the reverse Numbered 40/100 Image size: 50 × 71 cm Sheet size: 56.7 × 76 cm
Screen
Donald Sultan -- Wallflower 31
By Donald Sultan
Located in BRUCE, ACT
Donald Sultan Wallflower 31, 2008 Edition: 35/190 Sheet Size: 54.7 x 61.5 cm Image Size: 34.3 x 40.5 cm Signed right margin and numbered low left Printed and Published: Har-El, Print...
Lithograph
