The mysterious graffiti artist who has only been known as Banksy for years may have been finally identified. An investigation by Reuters concludes that the artist is a 51-year-old British man named Robin Gunningham. However, Gunningham had changed his name to David Jones in 2008, the investigation revealed.
What did Banksy’s reps say about the Reuters’ report?
Banksy’s lawyer, Mark Stephens, didn’t confirm the accuracy of the Reuters report. When Reuters reached out to Stephens with questions, he said Banksy “does not accept that many of the details contained within your enquiry are correct.” He also said it’s important for Banksy to stay anonymous because he has “been subjected to fixated, threatening and extremist behavior” for his controversial work, which often reflects social justice efforts.
“[Working] anonymously or under a pseudonym serves vital societal interests,” he said. “It protects freedom of expression by allowing creators to speak truth to power without fear of retaliation, censorship or persecution—particularly when addressing sensitive issues such as politics, religion or social justice.”
Banksy’s former manager, Steve Lazarides, said there “is no Robin Gunningham.” Lazarides didn’t confirm if Banksy was Gunningham, but he said the artist changed his name in 2008 when the two split.
“You’ll never find him,” Lazarides said.
How did Reuters reveal Banksy’s identity?
Reuters reporters said they revealed Banksy’s identity after they examined a hand-written confession the artist wrote years ago when he faced charges of disorderly conduct. Banksy was arrested in New York in the year 2000 during Fashion Week, per the report.
At that time, Banksy became intrigued with a billboard for designer Marc Jacobs, which featured the slogan “Boys Love Marc Jacobs.” Photographer Steve Lazarides said Banksy climbed the roof of a New York apartment and “doctored the Marc Jacobs Men billboard so that the model had goofy teeth.”
The artist was then charged with a misdemeanor and ordered to pay $310. Per Reuters, court documents from the arrest reveal that the artist’s real name is Robin Gunningham.
The investigation also adds that reporters gathered information from Banksy’s time in Ukraine during the war to reveal his identity.
What are some of Banksy’s most popular art pieces?
One of Banksy’s most popular art pieces is a stencil drawing known as “Girl With Balloon,” which features a young girl who appears to be releasing a red, heart-shaped balloon. The painting initially sold for $1.4 million. However, when it went up for resale a short time later, Banksy shredded the piece with a device he built into the frame. The artist renamed the piece “Love is in the Bin” and sold it for $25 million three years later.
Banksy has also shown his solidarity with Palestine through his artwork, per The Telegraph. One of his recent pieces, seen on the side of the Royal Courts of Justice in London, features a judge hitting a protester with a gavel. Some critics have said that the piece honors pro-Palestine activists.
The mysterious graffiti artist known for years only as Banksy may have finally been identified. An investigation by Reuters concludes that the artist is a 51-year-old British man named Robin Gunningham. However, Gunningham reportedly changed his name to David Jones in 2008, the investigation revealed.
What did Banksy’s reps say about the Reuters report?
Banksy’s lawyer, Mark Stephens, did not confirm the accuracy of the Reuters report. When Reuters reached out to Stephens with questions, he said Banksy “does not accept that many of the details contained within your enquiry are correct.”
He also said it is important for Banksy to remain anonymous because he has “been subjected to fixated, threatening and extremist behavior” due to his controversial work, which often reflects social justice issues.
“[Working] anonymously or under a pseudonym serves vital societal interests,” Stephens said. “It protects freedom of expression by allowing creators to speak truth to power without fear of retaliation, censorship or persecution—particularly when addressing sensitive issues such as politics, religion or social justice.”
Banksy’s former manager, Steve Lazarides, said there “is no Robin Gunningham.” Lazarides did not confirm whether Banksy was Gunningham, but he said the artist changed his name in 2008 when the two split.
“You’ll never find him,” Lazarides said.
How did Reuters reveal Banksy’s identity?
Reuters reporters said they revealed Banksy’s identity after examining a handwritten confession the artist reportedly wrote years ago when he faced charges of disorderly conduct. Banksy was arrested in New York in 2000 during Fashion Week, according to the report.
At that time, Banksy became intrigued by a billboard for designer Marc Jacobs that featured the slogan “Boys Love Marc Jacobs.” Photographer Steve Lazarides said Banksy climbed onto the roof of a New York apartment and “doctored the Marc Jacobs Men billboard so that the model had goofy teeth.”
The artist was then charged with a misdemeanor and ordered to pay $310. According to Reuters, court documents from the arrest reveal that the artist’s real name is Robin Gunningham.
The investigation also says reporters gathered information from Banksy’s time in Ukraine during the war to help reveal his identity.
What are some of Banksy’s most popular art pieces?
One of Banksy’s most well-known art pieces is a stencil drawing called “Girl With Balloon,” which features a young girl appearing to release a red, heart-shaped balloon. The painting initially sold for $1.4 million. However, when it went up for resale a short time later, Banksy shredded the piece with a device he had built into the frame.
The artist later renamed the piece “Love Is in the Bin,” and it sold for $25 million three years later.
Banksy has also shown solidarity with Palestine through some of his artwork, according to The Telegraph. One recent piece, seen on the side of the Royal Courts of Justice in London, features a judge hitting a protester with a gavel. Some critics have said the piece honors pro-Palestine activists.
The post Who Is Banksy? Artist’s Identity Finally Seems To Have Been Revealed appeared first on Blavity.
