By Sofia Paola Sarandrea, Year 12
Banksy is a world-renowned street artist who primarily focuses on global issues and expresses them through his graffiti-style artworks. Over the years, the name Bansky has grown increasingly more recognizable; however, the artist’s true identity remains unknown.
Banksy’s art is known all over the world. His more well-known works include Girl with Balloon, Flower Thrower, Bomb Hugger, and many more. All of these follow a similar pattern in making a statement on global issues such as war and peace, consumerism, social inequality, environmental issues, etc.
There are multiple speculations about why the artist has chosen to remain anonymous. One leading theory is that he does so to avoid arrest (as he is not normally permitted to display his artwork). Secondly, some believe it’s to have the viewer’s views directed at the work itself and understand the message of it rather than focusing on the artist’s identity and personal life.
The curious obsession of finding Banksy’s true identity has caused the public to throw some names about, claiming to have found out the true identity behind these pieces. One prominent theory directs attention to Paul Horner, a man from Liverpool who has been tracked down by The Anti-Graffiti Task Force and had been found to have arrests for vandalism, conspiracy, and racketeering. However, Banksy’s publicist publicly stated shortly that this man was not Banksy. The second, and least plausible theory, is that the man behind Banksy could be a man called Robin Gunningham, who is a native and current resident in Bristol. He moved to London in the 2000s, which coincides with Banksy’s timeline, therefore being a possible candidate for possibly being Banksy. However, nothing much has come out of this theory other than speculation.
Aside from the fact that Banksy’s identity remains unknown, Banksy wants the public to focus on the message behind his artworks rather than who he is. He has made a plethora of amazing artworks over the years that address relevant global issues. He uses his powerful status as an artist to spread a message on how so many individuals in the world are suffering due to war, violence, refugee crises, and more. He puts all his art skills to good use to spread a shocking and powerful message.
In conclusion, Banksy’s concealed identity adds a layer of mystery and depth to his art, allowing his messages to shine on their own without the destruction of personal fame by remaining anonymous. Banksy challenges traditional notions of authorship and prompts viewers to focus on powerful messages within his work.
Sources:
Works Cited
“Banksy’s Identity, the Three Most Popular Theories.” Artsper Magazine, 28 Jan. 2022, blog.artsper.com/en/lifestyle/banksys-identity/.
Canvas Art Rocks. “UPDATED 2019! 130 Amazing Banksy Graffiti Artworks with Locations.” Canvas Art Rocks, 25 Apr. 2019, www.canvasartrocks.com/blogs/posts/70529347-121-amazing-banksy-graffiti-artworks-with-locations.
Howie, Lucy. “Why Is Banksy Anonymous | MyArtBroker | Article.” MyArtBroker, 8 May 2024, www.myartbroker.com/artist-banksy/articles/why-is-banksy-anonymous.
“Who Is Banksy? We Rank the 10 Most Plausible Theories.” Artnet News, 13 Oct. 2016, news.artnet.com/art-world/who-is-banksy-we-rank-the-ten-most-plausible-theories-699059.
