Banksy

Banksy is a pseudonymous England‑based street artist, political activist, and film director whose identity remains officially unconfirmed, though investigative journalism and academic research frequently cite Robin Gunningham (born 1974‑07‑28 in Yate, England) as the most likely candidate. Active since the early 1990s, his career began in the Bristol underground scene, where he collaborated with musicians and fellow graffiti crews before moving to London around 2000. He pioneered a distinctive stencilling technique that allows rapid deployment of intricate, darkly humorous images combined with subversive epigrams, enabling him to evade police while commenting on war, capitalism, consumerism, and social inequality. Over the decades, his work has appeared on walls, bridges, and public installations worldwide, ranging from the iconic Girl with Balloon to the politically charged Napalm series, and his film Exit Through the Gift Shop earned an Academy Award nomination in 2011. Banksy’s pieces often blur the line between temporary vandalism and high‑value art; while he eschews traditional gallery representation, a small number of his works are sold through his own Pest Control agency, and numerous pieces have fetched millions at auction, prompting the media‑coined “Banksy effect.” Beyond the visual realm, he engages in philanthropy, funding the Walled Off Hotel in Bethlehem, creating Game Changer for NHS staff during the COVID‑19 pandemic, and donating proceeds from various sales to humanitarian causes. His anonymity fuels a mythos that enhances both the social impact and market intrigue of his oeuvre, making Banksy a singular figure at the intersection of street culture, contemporary art, and activist discourse.