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Banksy

Pseudonymous England-based street artist and activist.

Banksy is a mysterious street artist known for his satirical and politically charged artwork. His identity remains unknown, adding to the intrigue surrounding his pieces. Banksy's unique stenciling technique has gained global recognition, with his works appearing on streets worldwide. He has also delved into film directing, with his documentary 'Exit Through the Gift Shop' receiving critical acclaim.

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Timeline

Early Career of Banksy

Banksy started his career as a freehand graffiti artist with Bristol's DryBreadZ Crew between 1990 and 1994.

The Mild Mild West Mural

Banksy painted his first large wall mural, The Mild Mild West, in 1997 in Bristol. The mural features a teddy bear throwing a Molotov cocktail at riot police, showcasing Banksy's distinctive style and message.

Banksy's First Inside Art Exhibition

In 1998, Banksy held his first 'inside' art exhibition in a flat in Easton, Bristol, showcasing acrylic on canvas works. The exhibition featured an early version of his iconic piece 'Love Is In The Air'.

The Mild Mild West Mural

The Mild Mild West is Banksy's first known and preserved large wall mural from 1999, covering an advertisement in Bristol. It features a teddy bear preparing to throw a Molotov cocktail at three riot police officers, inspired by a real-life confrontation between the police and Bristol's youth.

Banksy's First Los Angeles Exhibition

On July 19, 2002, Banksy's first Los Angeles exhibition, titled Existencilism: an Exhibition of Art, Lies and Deviousness, debuted at 331⁄3 Gallery owned by Frank Sosa. The exhibition showcased iconic stencils like Barcode, Bomb Hugger, Love Is In The Air, and Laugh Now.

Existencilism Exhibition

Banksy hosts the 'Existencilism – an Exhibition of Art, Lies and Deviousness' show in Los Angeles at the 331⁄3 Gallery in Silver Lake.

Creation of Di-faced Tenners by Banksy

In August 2004, Banksy created fake 10-pound notes featuring Princess Diana's head instead of the Queen's, and changed 'Bank of England' to 'Banksy of England'. These notes, known as Di-faced Tenners, played a significant role in Banksy's career and were later used in the authentication process by Pest Control Office.

Banksy's Altered £10 Notes

Banksy replaced the Queen's head with Princess Diana's on British £10 notes, labeling them as 'Banksy of England'. These altered notes were scattered across England and have become highly sought after due to their rarity and value.

Banksy's Barely Legal Exhibition in Los Angeles

Banksy opened the Barely Legal exhibition in Los Angeles, featuring a live elephant painted in a pink and gold floral wallpaper pattern to draw attention to world poverty. The exhibition was a three-day vandalized warehouse extravaganza.

Banksy's Exhibition 'Barely Legal'

Banksy organized an exhibition named 'Barely Legal' in Los Angeles, which was described as a 'three-day vandalised warehouse extravaganza'.

Ballerina with Action Man Parts Sold at Sotheby's

On February 8, 2007, the artwork 'Ballerina with Action Man Parts' was sold at Sotheby's London for GBP 96,000, setting a high water mark for a Banksy work at auction.

Sotheby's Auction of Banksy Works

On 21 February 2007, Sotheby's auction house in London sold three Banksy works, including Bombing Middle England, Girl with Balloon, and Bomb Hugger, for record prices. This event highlighted the increasing popularity and value of Banksy's art.

Space Girl and Bird Auction Record

On April 25, 2007, Banksy set a new auction record with his artwork 'Space Girl and Bird' selling for GBP 288,000 at Bonhams London, exceeding its estimated value by more than 20 times.

Record Sale of Banksy's Space Girl and Bird

On 27 April 2007, Banksy's artwork titled Space Girl and Bird was sold at auction for £288,000, setting a new record high for the sale of Banksy's work. The price fetched was around 20 times the estimated value.

Banksy awarded Art’s Greatest Living Briton

On 21 May 2007, Banksy was awarded the title of Art’s Greatest Living Briton. Despite the recognition, Banksy did not attend the ceremony to maintain his anonymity.

Banksy replaced the guns with bananas, then later placed the bananas with guns and put banana suits on the actors.

Walls on Fire Street Art Exhibition

In August 2008, Banksy and Inkie organized the first open-air street art exhibition called Walls on Fire with the town hall's approval.

Banksy Vs The Bristol Museum exhibition

Starting on June 13, 2009, Banksy held the 'Banksy Vs The Bristol Museum' exhibition in Bristol. The show featured over 100 artworks and attracted more than 300,000 visitors, running for three months until August 31.

Hurricane Katrina Painting

Banksy made a painting for the Hurricane Katrina and the associated levee failure disaster anniversarys in New Orleans.

World Premiere of Exit Through The Gift Shop at Sundance Film Festival

Banksy's film, Exit Through The Gift Shop, had its world premiere at The Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. To celebrate the screening, Banksy created 10 street pieces around Park City and Salt Lake City.

Original Banksy artworks at HMV for 'Exit Through The Gift Shop' promotion

Banksy placed original artworks at HMV to promote the UK release of the documentary film 'Exit Through The Gift Shop'. The artworks were displayed between the aisles and in the windows of HMV.

Banksy's Tesco Value Print Release

On May 11, 2011, Banksy released a lithographic print featuring a smoking petrol bomb inside a 'Tesco Value' bottle. This artwork made a powerful statement on consumerism and corporate culture.

Banksy Slave Labour Mural Auction

In May 2013, Banksy's mural depicting a young child sewing Union Flag bunting, known as the Slave Labour mural, was auctioned and sold for over £450,000.

Banksy One-Month Show in New York

In October 2013, Banksy started a one-month show on the streets of New York, creating a mural, art installation, or stunt each day. He also opened a separate website and gave an interview to The Village Voice.

Attempted Theft of Bethlehem Banksy Mural

Police prevented a theft attempt on a Banksy mural located in Bethlehem.

Opening of Dismaland

Banksy opened Dismaland, a large-scale group show modelled after Disneyland, on August 21, 2015. It satirized the disappointing temporary themed attractions in the UK at that time.

Brexit Mural in Dover, UK

Banksy created a mural in Dover, UK, depicting his take on Brexit during a time of political uncertainty in Europe, with the UK undergoing a general election and France contemplating its European future.

Banksy's New Print Release of Girl with Balloon

Banksy announced a new print release of the iconic Girl with Balloon, exclusively available to registered voters in the Bristol area who vote against the Conservative party. This would have been Banksy's first regular print release since Choose Your Weapon in 2010.

Banksy cancels new print release

Banksy announced the cancellation of a new print release due to legal issues. The promotion for a free print for voting against the Tories was called off.

Brooklyn Seal Confirmed by Banksy's Instagram

On March 21, 2018, Banksy confirmed the Brooklyn seal painted at an abandoned gas station in Midwood, Brooklyn, using the remaining part of the Mobil gas station logo as his ball.

Banksy's Artwork Shredding at Sotheby's

In October 5th, Banksy's famous artwork 'Girl with Balloon' self-destructed through a shredder hidden in the frame just after it was sold for over a million pounds at Sotheby's auction house in London.

Banksy's Painting Self-Destruction

A painting by Banksy, depicting a girl releasing a red balloon, self-destructed just after being auctioned for $1.4 million at Sotheby's. Banksy had secretly installed a shredder in the frame of the painting to destroy it if it ever went up for auction, turning the auction itself into a work of art.

Banksy's Venice Biennale Video

Banksy posted a video on his Instagram account showcasing a man with a concealed face sitting next to oil paintings in Venice amidst other artists and vendors. The paintings depicted scenes of Venice, including gondolas, reflecting the city's beauty and struggles.

Season's Greetings in Port Talbot, Wales

On December 19th, Season's Greetings was displayed in Port Talbot, Wales, possibly referring to the famous Banksy mural. The artwork is known for its powerful message and artistic value.

Valentine’s mural in Bristol’s Barton Hill neighborhood

On February 13, 2020, a special Valentine’s mural was created on the side of a building in Bristol’s Barton Hill neighborhood. The mural depicted a young girl firing a slingshot of real, red flowers and leaves. Banksy later confirmed it as his work on Valentine’s Day.

Banksy confirms Valentine’s mural

On Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2020, Banksy confirmed that the Valentine’s mural in Bristol’s Barton Hill neighborhood was indeed his work. He made the confirmation through his Instagram account and website.

Banksy paints COVID-19 inspired artwork in London Tube

On 14 July 2020, Banksy painted a new artwork in the London Tube inspired by COVID-19. He shared a video on Instagram showing him in protective gear creating the piece in support of facial coverings.

Love is the Bin Artwork Display at Sotheby's

Assistants posing by Banksy's artwork titled Love is the Bin during a photocall at Sotheby's auction house in London.

Resale of Love is in the Bin

The partially-shredded Banksy artwork, Love is in the Bin, was resold by Sotheby's auction house in London for £18,582,000, making it the first artwork in history to have been created live during an auction.

Banksy posts 'Valentine's Day Mascara' on Instagram

On Valentine's Day 2023, Banksy shared a new piece titled 'Valentine's Day Mascara' on Instagram, addressing themes of domestic violence and garnering widespread attention.

Banksy's Influence on the Art World

Banksy, considered the most famous living artist globally, is renowned for his provocative paintings with social and political themes. His impact on the art world has been significant for decades, attracting interest from buyers and sellers alike.

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