Who is Banksy?
Banksy is known as an infamous graffiti master, painter, political activist, filmmaker and international icon. I've scraped source after source for information on this Banksy character and each source fails to explain Banksy in one particular way. However, most sources say Banksy is a man. Personally, I do have a belief on who Banksy is, but it is strictly opinionated after analyzing all the information I had gathered on this international icon.
Banksy is a man that was born in London in the early 1970's. After a relatively uneventful childhood, young Banksy began practicing street art on the Bristol, UK streets. After multiple run-ins with police, the man who now goes by "Banksy" decided to evolve his street art in a way that would have an effect on him forever. He decided to use stencils, which allowed for his work to completed quicker, and neater. Some time passed before Banksy began receiving attention from the street art world. By the turn of the century, Banksy had completed his first exhibition in London. Soon after, he made his debut to Los Angeles to display work in the exhibiton Existencilism, which gained him much success. Not even a year later, he displayed his art in Turf War , also a international success. The success snowballed exhibition after exhibition, and Banksy's art pieces were beginning to value in the hundreds of thousands of dollars range. By now, people grew anxious of the identity of this new street art genius. To date, Banksy continues to grow more and more popular, yet continues to stay anonymous. His distinct, high value artwork continues to find itself on streets around the world. How is so much success possible? I have a theory.
I do believe Banksy is a single individual. However, I firmly believe he is not alone in creating, constructing, and selling his art. You may not feel the same way but hear me out.
Banksy started out in the early 1990's. He didn't receive much recognition. He then incorporated the use of stencils. Still not much success. But then it seems his success skyrockets like a light switch. The main reason for his success is because he got out his name by completing a lot, and I mean ALOT of high quality art. And not just in one geographical spot. His art was finding itself on walls all over Europe, and in the U.S. Yet while that art was being publicized, Banksy seemed to be off doing something else. His anonymity made him more popular, and those who appreciated his work were eager to know the identity of the man behind all that success. To me, in today's society, an international icon wouldn't be able to go unidentified. Especially when that international icon's occupation is, technically speaking, breaking the law. Even if Banksy was the most elusive person in the world, there would be no way he could escape authorities grasp for so long. And how does one person stay so organized with so many art pieces going just about everywhere (donating, selling, leaving on the streets).
Banksy, in my belief, is an individual. However, he is not the sole individual involved in his work. I believe he is the leader of a group of art-related individuals. I think Banksy has associates helping him in every phase (designing, constructing, selling, managing, speaking, as well as organizing charitable acts).
Above is a video where Banksy and an associate are caught completing an art piece on a youth organization building. Banksy gave the owner his blessings to sell the pieces to benefit the organization.