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Snogging policemen in Brighton, a murdered red phone box in Soho Square, an illicit lover escaping from his mistress’s window in Bristol – Banksy’s thought-provoking designs can be found in public spaces in cities across the world.
Aside from his wry intelligence, audaciousness and incredible skills with a stencil and a can of spray paint, part of the popularity of Banksy is down to his cloak of mystery! The elusive Banksy is a nameless and faceless street artist, political activist, painter and director who first gained attention in the English city of Bristol.
His work is anti-war, anti-authoritarianism, anti-capitalism – in fact, in his book ‘Wall & Piece’ Banksy states: "Sometimes I feel so sick at the state of the world, I can't even finish my second apple pie."
However you feel about the state of the world, Banksy’s insightful imagery and social commentary certainly makes it all a little more beautiful and a whole lot more interesting.
Here, I've put together a list of some of Banksy's most clever and brilliant pieces.
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This design was discovered in the South Bank of London in 2002 on the wall of a stairway. In this work an innocent girl is reaching for a red heart-shaped balloon that is just beyond her grasp, and the words “there is always hope” are placed behind the girl.
This is a stencilled painting of a man wearing a kerchief, throwing a bouquet of flowers. Though predominantly in black and white, the flowers protruding from the wrapper are in colour.
It is thought that this design is a reminiscent of the 1960's campus and street riots.
In 2006, a graffiti featuring Banksys signature gangster rat icon was found painted on a corner of Moorfields Eye Hospital which is on Londons City Road. Upon discovery of the piece, the institution’s management immediately covered it up to protect this valuable piece of street art from theft or damage. Four years later, they put it up for auction during the Saatchi Gallerys The Art of Giving” event. The proceeds were to go into research for the treatment of eye diseases.
Snorting is a very evocative image, the copper on his hands and knees with a coke pipe, following a while line down a back alley. The original image appeared on a wall on Curtain Road in London.
This design depicts the head and shoulder of a gorilla. The ape has a look of curiosity as he looks out at the viewers, which in turn, is undoubtedly replicated by its viewers. The gorilla, stencilled in a mix of greys, is donning a vivid pink mask such as one might see at a masked ball.
This design first appeared in 2002 and features Banksy's Laugh Now Monkey. This piece sold at an art sale in 2008 for a whopping $500,000.
Banksy painted ten such monkeys in a row, each standing upright. While their eyes are not visible, it is clear from the hang of their heads, the slope of their shoulders, the downturned corners of their mouths that these monkeys feel rather downtrodden. The full text of the sign board reads, Laugh now, but one day well be in charge.”
This piece, most recognisably known as Kissing Coppers, depicts two embracing policeman. The work was carefully removed in 2011 before being put onto a canvas, sold to art dealer Stephan Keszler and flown to America. The piece of stencilled graffiti was originally spray-painted onto the wall of the Prince Albert Pub in Brighton's city centre in 2004.
Banksy's maid was found sweeping the streets of Hoxton Square. Banksy said, when explaining this piece: "In the bad old days, it was only popes and princes who had the money to pay for their portraits to be painted, this is a portrait of a maid called Leanne who cleaned my room in a Los Angeles motel. She was quite a feisty lady."
This is Banksy's Tagging Robot stencil piece, which he created in Coney Island during his New York residency tour, Better Out Than In, in October 2013.
The piece was created on the wall of a convenience store, the owner of which was quick to protect the Banksy piece by installing a metal door shutter over the top of it.
This image features the Virgin Mary feeding the baby Jesus from a bottle marked with toxic sign. Some believe the work is a social commentary on the dietary habits of the West as so much affordable food is processed and pumped full of E numbers, a toxic diet unavoidable for so many people.
Many of these designs are available from online t-shirt and clothing specialist, Tribal T-Shirts. Tribal T-shirts offers a whole range of Banksy t-shirts, bags, sweatshirts - as well as canvases and cushions - in a variety of styles, colours and styles. Take a look!
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