Graffiti is not what people usually think of when the topic of high-price art comes up. But the street-relegated art form made waves in 2018 when a famous piece from the mysterious artist Banksy fetched over a million dollars at an auction. But that’s far from the most surprising thing that happened at the event.

When the hammer went down to announce the winning bid, the UK-based provocateur, whose real identity only a few know, shocked the world once again. Will he get away with the stunt this time? Will he ever reveal his face?

Going, Going Gone

You’re probably familiar with the image. A little girl stenciled in black and white stands next to a heart-shaped red balloon. It's one of Banksy’s most recognizable works. But on that October day in 2018, it was framed rather than merely existing on a street wall. A suit-wearing Sotheby's auctioneer was taking bids for it.

As the price continued to rise to hundreds of thousands, the tension in the packed gallery also seemed to grow more intense. And then the winning bid came £860,000 ($1.2 million) rounded up to a flat £1 million ($1.4 million), premium included. The hammer went down, and the crowd cheered, not expecting what would happen next...

The Urge To Destroy Is A Creative Urge

Girl With Balloon started moving down and shredding itself with a contraption seemingly built into the frame. Everyone at the gallery was shocked. By the time staff got to it, half of the piece was already beyond rescue. Suspicions that bidders were “Banksy-ed” started floating around.

They were right. The anonymous artist soon took to Instagram to share a video showing a man installing blades into the frame, which reportedly happened years before the painting even entered the auction block. He captioned the post with a simple quote from Pablo Picasso, “The urge to destroy is also a creative urge.”

A Simple But Powerful Image

Since then, Banksy has authenticated the shredded Girl With Balloon as a new piece of work called Love Is In The Bin. The buyer eventually agreed to accept the painting, saying that he is now the owner of a piece of art history.

This isn’t the first time that Banksy’s iconic image was reworked since it first came to print in the early '00s. Interpreted as either a symbol of hope and love’s arrival or the loss of innocence, it was redesigned to commemorate Syria's civil war anniversary in 2014.

The Birth of Banksy

Much has been said about Banksy’s controversial stunts and political messages. The opposite is true when it comes to his personal life and origins. The Smithsonian Magazine traces his artistic roots in Bristol’s Barton Hill district. Coming from a wealthier part of town, he ventured into the intimidating neighborhood despite hearing his father’s cautionary tales.

Barton Hill’s reputation for drugs and crime likely played a huge part in the name he picked for himself. Initially calling himself Robin Banx (as in robbin’ banks), he shortened it to something shorter, more memorable, and most importantly, faster to write on walls. Thus, Banksy was born.

He Found His Signature Style Out Of Necessity

His distinct style would come later after a heart-thumping encounter with the local police. One day, he and some friends were painting a train when the transport police showed up. Banksy was left behind when his friends made a run for the car, so he hid for an hour under an oil truck until it was safe to come out.

Crouching there, dripping in engine oil, and on the verge of being caught, he realized that he needed to create his art faster than the cops could come. He had a realization when he saw a stenciled plate. Banksy decided to adopt the same technique from then on.

Retreating Into Anonymity

Even before he became well-known, Banksy realized that staying anonymous would be the smart thing to do. The most obvious reason is that he’s often evading arrest. You see, graffiti resulting in criminal damage is a crime in the UK. Offenders can be fined up to £5,000 ($6,700) or worse, spend up to a year in jail when caught.

But he also saw the more positive side of hiding his real identity. It could help him create buzz around his mysterious persona. The timing of this decision in the late ‘90s proved perfect because his profile was already then on the rise, and his art found its way into more city streets.

He’s A Rebel Through And Through

His status as a phantom celebrity and rebel would be cemented in 2003 with the staging of his breakthrough exhibition, Turf War. The event was attended by fans, the police, and even prominent figures like chef Jamie Oliver and DJ Sara Cox. Said to be 28 years old at the time, Banksy notably expressed his unconventional views on art.

Speaking to Artnet, he said painting “sucks,” and he’d soon find something else better to do with his time. He even criticized the gallery system and the millionaires who get to put a price tag on art. Banksy is not all talk. Soon, he was on a world tour pranking respected museums.

Banksy’s World Tour

Disguising himself, Banksy spent over a year visiting museums like the Louvre in Paris and the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MoMA) in New York City. But he did more than just sightsee and bask at the works of the masters that came before him.

He managed to put up his own version of the iconic Mona Lisa, complete with a smiley face, at the Louvre. Dubbed Mona Lisa Smile, it eventually sold for £56,000 ($75,000) at an auction. His hang-and-run stunt in the Big Apple includes installing a portrait of a woman in a gas mask at MoMA.

Israel Was His Last Stop To International Stardom

On the tails of his museum tour, Banksy found himself in Israel in 2005. Armed with spray paint and an important message, he stenciled powerful escape-themed images on the West Bank's hotly contested barrier wall. How did he do it without getting caught? Your guess is as good as ours.

Among the images he left behind is a girl being lifted by balloons as if attempting to cross over. Banksy also painted another one of his iconic works, Rage, Flower Thrower, in Jerusalem. The image, a man throwing a flower instead of a Molotov cocktail, is interpreted as a piece of anti-war art.

Banksy Goes To The Movies

Now that the world knows his name, what is left to do for the subversive street artist, you ask? Finally, unveil his true identity? Nope. Banksy decided to shift his focus on filmmaking with the 2010 documentary, Exit Through the Gift Shop, which featured him and an interesting new character.

In the film, we got to follow Thierry Guetta, a French immigrant obsessed with street art. It showed a glimpse inside the upper echelons of the art world and how the rise of high-concept graffiti led to the commodification of the artists’ work.

Revolutionary Or Hypocrite?

But as Banksy expressed his criticism of the capitalist establishment in both art and society, he also faced up against those who believe he benefits from the same system he despises. This alleged hypocrisy was highlighted after the shredding of Girl With Balloon.

While he likely wouldn’t see the money the painting fetched at the auction, the stunt effectively raised his future work's potential value. Some street art experts even go as far as to say that Banksy is as much of a capitalist as anyone else. Looking at the eye-popping prices his other works have fetched, you’d likely also agree.

Devolved Parliament Sold For A Record-Setting Price

His painting, Devolved Parliament, sold for $12.2 million in 2019 and is currently the most expensive work sold from his portfolio to date. The piece notably depicts the British parliament members as apes and appears to be commenting on the chaos that engulfs UK politics as it breaks off the European Union.

But what’s interesting is that Banksy created the painting in 2009, over a decade before Brexit. This proved to be a testament to his message's timelessness, and that fact didn’t go unnoticed. Devolved Parliament was displayed at the Bristol Museum & Art Gallery on the day the UK was meant to leave the political union.

Banksy Kept It Spotless

The sale of Devolved Parliament effectively dethroned the collaborative piece Keep It Spotless, which was auctioned on Valentine’s Day 2008 for $1.7 million, as the most expensive Banksy work ever sold. Aside from the high prices they fetched, another thing the paintings have in common is that they both comment on current events.

It features a hotel housekeeper, Leanne, sweeping the floor and pulling up a painting by the artist Damien Hirst. The concept appeared to be a reworking of a previous Banksy image called Sweeping It Under the Carpet, which was interpreted as a metaphor of the reluctance to confront serious issues like AIDS in Africa.

You Can Own His Works For Free, But There’s A Catch

Banksy is not one to sweep criticism under the rug, though. In an email to the New Yorker, he defends himself, saying how he gives away thousands of his paintings for free. And that’s because he doesn’t believe that he can make art talking about poverty while he himself hoards the money made from his work.

Everyone is also welcome to use his images for free. That is, as long as you don’t plan on making money off of his work. You can even download high-resolution images of Banksy’s paintings and stencils from his website and have it printed to enjoy in your own home.

The Dilemma Of The Non-Consenting Artist

And if you still see Banksy as a hypocrite to his cause, you might want to take your concerns to the people who take his works from the streets and sell them for millions instead. In this context, you’ll see him as a non-consenting artist that has no control over how his work is sold.

A quick search on sites like eBay would show you thousands of results when searching for Banksy knockoffs. From street photographers to copycat artists to art dealers, it would appear that everybody else is profiting off his art except for him. Banksy is no fool, though...

Banksy Does Pest Control

To prevent people from getting duped into buying fakes, he created the aptly-named Pest Control, an office that authenticates his pieces and hands out certificates to owners. What’s more, it serves as the sole point of contact to reach the reclusive Banksy.

The office also identifies itself as his parent-slash-legal guardian, as its staff handles his paperwork and, of course, intercepts his hate mail. Still, this doesn’t answer some questions you might have been mulling over for a while now. How does Banksy really earn a living? And more importantly, how wealthy is he?

How Wealthy Is Banksy, Really?

We’re afraid Banksy’s net worth is just another one of those things we may never know about him. Although online sources peg his fortune between $20 million and $50 million, these are likely rough estimates at best. As for how he earns from his works, Artspace has their educated guesses.

He’s most likely selling his works straight from the studio through Pictures on Walls (POW), an artists’ collective co-founded by Banksy and Pest Control. Depending on the size, a signed print of his image can sell for $20,000 to $40,000, and he takes a cut from the sale. As of the moment, Pest Control isn’t selling any of his works.

He Built His Own Twisted Version Of Disneyland

Whatever Banksy’s earnings are, you might be glad that his resources have allowed him to create more ambitious projects. In 2015, he unveiled one of his most comprehensive projects to date. Dismaland is an apocalyptic theme park built on top of a derelict seaside resort in Somerset, England.

And no, it wasn’t just a pop-up exhibit with Banksy’s and 58 other artists’ works on display. Had you been in the area during the five-week window it was open in 2015, you would have enjoyed (or not) a fully immersive experience of Disneyland’s twisted cousin.

Dismaland: A Fun Place For Nobody

Entering the park’s gates, sightseers are greeted by Dismaland’s disgruntled staff. No smiles or greeting of “Have a nice day!” to be seen or heard as is consistent with the British people’s stereotype and their standard customer service. Safe to say, no family member is meant to have fun in Banksy’s theme park.

You’ll also find fake guards patrolling the vicinity in search of rule breakers. Their punishments are real, though, with some being asked to hop on the spot for a few minutes for not being dismal enough. With this kind of attraction, you’d be better off booking an actual hotel resort for your vacation.

Pop Culture Icon

For all his high-profile stunts and biting commentary on pressing issues, Banksy and his images have become a prominent part of 21st-century pop culture. In fact, you might remember hearing about his inclusion in Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people list in 2010.

Among portraits of Steve Jobs, Lady Gaga, and Barack Obama, is a photo of him covering his face with a paper bag, supplied by Banksy himself. Its accompanying write-up by American street artist Shepard Fairey sang his praises for his commitment to making art accessible to the public.

Hanksy: Banksy Meets Tom Hanks

Hanksy is one of the artists Banksy influenced. The New York City-based parodist took a page right out of his British counterpart’s playbook and shot to popularity in 2011 for imposing actor Tom Hanks’ face on Banksy-inspired graffiti. Knowing this, you can figure out how he came up with his name.

But Hanksy didn’t remain hidden behind his comedic alias. Determined to be known as more than just a meme artist, he started going by his real name Adam Lucas. As for the real Banksy, people are still in the shadows about his real identity, but some might be getting closer to the truth...

Will The Real Banksy Please Stand Up

Using criminology, mathematics, and geographic profiling, a group of scientists from the Queen Mary University, is determined to track down the street artist. The researchers mapped Banksy’s known works in Bristol and London and then compared them to the locations of suspected people believed to be him.

The results of their method were published in the Journal of Spatial Science in 2016. Their findings pointed towards one primary candidate for the real Banksy, and Steve Le Comber, a member of the research team, expressed his confidence about their educated guess.

Suspect Number One

Evidence suggested that Banksy is the artist Robin Gunningham, who also hails from Bristol. Suggestions of Gunningham’s alter ego reportedly date back to 2008 with a report from the Daily Mail. Whether or not he really is the elusive street artist, he is definitely benefiting from people’s interest in him.

One of Gunningham’s works, an album sleeve drawing, fetched £4,000 ($5,242) when it was auctioned in 2018, perhaps due to bidders hoping to get their hands on an original Banksy. And if you saw the similarity between the typeface and lettering both artists used, you might have used your paycheck to bid, too.

The Robert Del Naja Theory

Robert Del Naja, a member of the band Massive Attack, is another Bristol resident and another candidate for the real Banksy. The 55-year-old also began his street art career in the ‘90s and created graffiti with different artist collectives. So, what’s the most damning evidence against him, you ask?

Del Naja once designed an album sleeve for his band that had an awfully similar style to Banksy’s signature stencil. However, both artists have commented on the theory of their identity and said that they were actually friends. Or was it just a ploy to throw us off their scent?

Was He Hiding In Plain Sight?

Remember Thierry Guetta from the Exit Through The Gift Shop documentary? He’s a suspect, too. People are speculating that Guetta, also known as Mr. Brainwash, was only faking mediocrity for the show. If true, Banksy was hiding in plain sight as if teasing viewers who didn’t know any better.

Judging from Banksy’s sense of humor, this theory certainly seems quite plausible despite how outlandish it might sound. However, Guetta seems not to be pretending to be a bad artist as Artnet notes that actual art critics have also bashed his work.

More Evidence Unearthed

Meanwhile, a television interview of a young man, who identified himself as Banksy, in 2003 resurfaced in 2019. The footage was taken around the time of the Turf War exhibit and showed the man, who covered his face with a black T-shirt, stenciling graffiti that was, later on, authenticated.

While an interesting blast from the past, the retired reporter who did the interview wasn’t sure if the man he spoke to was actually the real Banksy. The British street artist might someday want to forsake his anonymity, though, especially after losing an important case in court in 2020.

The Price Of Anonymity

According to Dazed magazine, Banksy’s trademark is under threat as the greetings card company Full Colour Black won a two-year legal battle against him for the right to use his art on their products. The image in question is his famous Rage, The Flower Thrower.

The panel that made the decision mentioned his decision to remain anonymous and paint his art onto other people’s property as some of the deciding factors in its ruling. A legal expert also pointed out how this decision might put his other works at the risk of being used commercially without his permission.

Banksy Is Not Budging

With the world seemingly coming after your life’s work, you’d probably consider bending your convictions a little bit to survive. But it looks like Banksy is steadfast on keeping his identity a secret for now. Other people have made a buck off of him. What’s another one joining in?

Besides, it seems like he’s currently busy creating art that intrigues and comforts, especially while the UK and the rest of the world go through tough times during the pandemic. The country is currently the 7th nation with the most number of COVID-19 cases in the world.

A Productive Year

In May 2020, Banksy unveiled a new artwork at Southampton General Hospital. The black and white painting features a boy next to a container with superhero action figures. In his hand, he holds what appears to be a figure of a nurse wearing a face mask and a cape.

The message was clear, and Banksy even left a note thanking medical workers for all the work they do. The gesture was warmly received by the NHS, the organization at the forefront of fighting the pandemic. Called Game Changer, the work was also put up for auction to raise funds for the NHS.

A Timely Message For Tough Times

His most recent artwork is another one with an uplifting message. In October 2020, he claimed a black and white graffiti of a little girl hula-hooping outside a beauty salon in Nottingham. Many were pleased to see the stencil saying it was a much-needed bit of positivity during tough times.

While the world may never know Banksy’s real identity, it appears that we can continue to rely on him to use his platform to reflect the current state of society. And that includes the grim, the heart-breaking, and sometimes, the whimsical, too.