Banksy is an anonymous British street artist, political activist, and filmmaker whose provocative, satirical works have made him one of the most influential and recognizable figures in contemporary art. Emerging from the Bristol underground scene in the 1990s, Banksy developed a distinctive stencil-based technique that allowed him to create intricate, highly detailed images quickly and surreptitiously in public spaces.
Banksy’s art often critiques power structures, consumerism, war, and social hypocrisy with a mix of dark humor and poetic subversion. Iconic images such as Girl with Balloon, Flower Thrower, and There Is Always Hope have become cultural touchstones, reproduced worldwide and adapted into countless contexts.
Though his identity remains unconfirmed, Banksy has organized major exhibitions—including Barely Legal in Los Angeles (2006) and Dismaland (2015)—and his works have fetched record prices at auction, including his partially self-shredding Love Is in the Bin (formerly Girl with Balloon) at Sotheby’s in 2018.
Banksy’s ability to merge street-level accessibility with institutional recognition has redefined the relationship between graffiti and fine art, challenging audiences to question authority, engage with social issues, and reconsider the very nature of art itself.
