Banksy

Before he began stencilling he was just another kid tagging his way round Bristol.
Below are some examples of his early work. Whilst he was tagging at night and avoiding British Transport Police and Avon&Somerset's anti-graffiti officers he was also working as a butcher in the Co-op.
Whilst over the Atlantic you had the Rocksteady Crew over a decade later Banksy joined the Dry Breadz Crew.
This was a motley mix of puffheads tagging while listening to Dre's Chronic album and running riot all over Bristol to the consternation of the council.
Banksy though was ambitious and knew that if he wanted to be seen by a wider audience he would have to go to London to seek his fortune. Once he quit tagging and started stencilling there was no holding the boy.
Media savvy, he was well aware that the Guardian and all the hip fashion mags were based around the Old Street area of London.Wallpaper,Dazed and Confused and Sleazenation amongst others. It is no surprise that at the beginning of the new millenium he decided to use Old Street for his most iconic work and the one that put him on the map; Pulp.
JUNE 19TH 2011 Brian Haw dead.

R.I.P. Brian Haw.

Brian Haw is dead. An inspiration to Banksy, who gave him artwork for his campaign
which the police later took from him.

Whether you agree with Haw or not nobody can deny his fortitude and the strength of his convictions.

See the clip below.



BANKSY V TESCO MAY 4TH 2011
Banksy is going to sell the petrol bomb print to fund the activists againtst the Tesco in Bristol where the MIld Mild West was done


New Banksy April 26th 2011




Banksy's wife "outed" by The Daily Mail Mar 20th 2011
Banksy's wife has been outed by the Daily Mail. Now they are hounding her friends and family.
Even now with all his money who would want to be Banksy. Continually having to vet friends, unable to make new ones, having to abandon old ones. It doesn't sound like fun to us. Time for Banksy to reclaim his life and just come out, I mean who cares who he is. He is a national treasure now. He must not let the media control him. Now the media are in control of his life. If he comes out the news story will be dead in a few weeks and he would have his life back. So at least when he attends AA meetings he can proudly stand up and say " Hi , My name is BANKSY and I am ............ ( for the benefit of Banksy's lawyers we know Banksy is a teetotal vegan and grows all his own food , the bit about Banksy attending AA meetings is a joke)

Banksy misses out on Oscar Mar 2nd 2011

Banksy lost out at the Oscars but he did do a few new nice works in his campaign.


Banksy steps up his Oscar campaign Feb 15 th 2011

Seems the new Banksy has upset some of his fans.


"I don't know, this all seems so contrived. This is exactly what Banksy has always claimed to be against - advertising. This is simply an ad, no different than the other ads you see around town hyping other Oscar nominees. What's next, a full page "takeover" in Variety?

To make matters worse, the crayon image is on the side of the Urban Outfitters in Westwood. I think this quote in Wooster sums it up best. It also made me throw up a bit in my mouth ...

"Early this morning actress Lauren Conrad (The Hills) was the first to spot and tweet out one of the new Banksy street pieces - the Crayon Boy."

Personally we think it is still great that Banksy is out there spraying the walls. What is he meant to do, stay home all day smoking skunk and listen to Portishead and begin mumbling about back in the day.
Let's hope Banksy gets the Oscar for his documentary Last Exit.
And remember never bite the hand that feeds you.


Banksy Jungle Book Sold

Banksy's controversial "Jungle Book painting has sold at auction at Bonhams for £78 ,000.
Greenpeace were originally meant to have the piece to highlight the deforestation issues.
It was going to be used on posters and billboards but the Disney Corporation may have objected
to use of their characters so did not use it.
It has been reported that Banksy gave it to a friend who sold it through Bonahms
No one knows if Greenpeace will get any of the proceeds.
Banksy has allegedly said , "That the Jungle Book was the first film that made him cry in the
scene where he thought Mowgli was dead ."


December 20th 2010:
Banksy has been nomimated at next year's London Critics' Circle film awards for his
documentary Exit Through the Gift Shop.


Banksy maybe getting an Oscar November 22nd
His documentary " Exit through the gift shop" has been longlisted.
Wonder if he will turn up to accept it.
New Banksy added November 2nd

This is Banksy on top form. The eyes of the robot are actually the ventilation fan at the back of an hotel in Torquay.





New Banksy October 12th 2010



Banky's favourite artist September 20th/2010
Seems like Jeff Thomas the creator behind PON & ZI is said to be his favourite artist.
We agree too and think Pon & Zi will be massive . You can get them on this site as we have secured a distribution deal for them. Check out Pon & Zi


Changes at Canvastown September 5th-
We have been asked many times why we do not do other stuff so bowing to public pressure we are going to.
From next month we are going to expand our range and offer you what we consider the best canvas prints around. Our designer Nik is currently working on images and we look forward to giving you the best images,the best quality and the best price.

Remember kindness is the highest form of intelligence.

Banksy Triptych

Even banksy is said to have admired this. Unbelievable design and execution by Greek Nic.



THE ABOVE PICTURE IS AVAILABLE TO BUY. IT WAS COMMISSIONED BY US AND CREATED BY NIC THE GREEK BUY IT HERE

Banksy Art & Canvas Prints

Banksy Google Street Map

Google has just launched their street view in the UK so we thought we would begin adding links so you can see the Banksy Graffarti in it's original context. A lot of Banksy's street stuff is gone now, either buffed, sold or destroyed so at least with Google street view you can get a glimpse of how Banksy's graffarti used to be. This list is by no means finished and we will add to it daily, so keep checking back.

Here Goes
Picasso Tesco C.C.T.V Scouse Rat Mild Mild West Where is he? Maid Grim Reaper Gallery Staff

Remember that movie the Usual Suspects. Well Banksy reminds me of that guy Keyser Söze, the mythical criminal mastermind. Elusive, charming and leaves before he overstays his welcome.

Some say that he is really a public schoolboy named Robin Gunningham, others that he is Robert Banks who worked as a butcher in the Co-op , while the smart money is on that he really is Bert Perkins a former big issue seller from Bromley. It doesn't matter: he is a legend .

Banksy as a noun

You know when you've made it when your name becomes a noun and he has definitely made it. As soon as a new piece of street art appears, people are first to ask "Is that a Banksy? "

Banksy unmaksed behind the myths

Without blowing his cover I thought you would like to know a bit more about him so you can understand the dedication and thinking and his meteoric rise to take the mantle of Warhol and be the commentator for the IPOD generation.Please note I know of Banksy but I am not an acquaintance nor friend. I've had a few pints with him in the past but that's about it. Don't ask for any pictures as that wouldn't be cricket. Would it? Read Banksy back in the day for more.

Banksy Art

Hopefully, just like you I am an admirer of Banksy and I hope he continues to entertain us for many years to come with his wit and wisdom. Many people misjudge him but he is smarter than you think. Did you know on the 20th November he made £130 050 in 20 seconds. That is how long it took him to sell online 289 signed edition prints for £450 each. The website crashed as an estimated 10 000 people tried to buy one.

New Banksy September 4th-

Being the top salesman, that he is , Banksy has began promoting his new DVD by doing a new piece in Hastings. The DVD will be available at Tesco and all good stores.
There was also a good bit of PR with a two page spread in the nation's favouitre newspaper "The Sun" We say buy the banksy DVD .
Banksy Friday Jan15th 2010
Probably the best piece by Banksy after the balloon girl.
Exclusive Nik remix

See you next Friday when we unveil the Larry Levan inspired dub version of the Apes In Parliament.


Banksy V Nik The Greek Jan 8th 2010

This is another exclusive remix done for us by Nik The Greek.
Every Friday we will be uloading a new remix.
We think this Queen Vic is first class.




July 24th 2010 - Banksy to take a break -
Looks like Banksy is taking a break after his world tour prublicising his documentary.
It is coming out on DVD and is called " Last Exit Before The Gift Shop".
A book may also be out at the Xmas. Well done Banksy we think you deserve it.

June 16 2010 - Never mind The World Cup performance -

Forget about Green and his howler no doubt he will do an advert for Pizza Hut and get a few million.
Lucky he is not playing for a country like Columbia where he would really have to worry.

Banksy has decided to cheer us up and has published a portrait. Enjoy.
PS He did not do the pub in Camden to help them drum up some business.




May 20th 2010 - THE BANKSY PROMOTIONAL TOUR CONTINUES
Like any celebrity with a film to sell Bankksy has been steadfastly promoting it in Toronto, Chicago, Detroit and most recently New York. ALhtough rather appearing on the Jay Reno show he has been tagging his way from Canda to the east coast of America.

We honestly believe that Banksy is getting better and hope you enjoy all the latest ones.

Banksy will be back in the UK for his annual Glastombury shindig next month. Expect some new pieces in London then. Also a new book will be out in time for the Xmas market with updates from his exhibiton and his movie.


These reviews (below) are independently verified and sent to Google directly. We have no control over the praise but keep it coming. More importantly tell us when we make a mistake. And we do make mistakes but we always rectify them and compensate above the call of duty.




APRIL 24TH 2010
New Banksy in L.A. with touch up by Nic the Greek.




March 26 2010

Remember to put the clocks forward this Sunday.
Now that spring is here expect Banksy to be hitting up London.

Leave you with Love Is In The Air.




Graffarti of the day Mar 22nd 2010
This is a super banksy print. Love the flower.







Graffarti of the day. Mar 11th 2010
Since Banksy kicked of the street art game thousands of kids haved put down their crayons and picked up the cans. Every day we are going to put up a new piece of street art. Some by Banksy others by anonymous kids out there hitting up the walls. Check this out.

BUY IT HERE



More Banksy Madness Feb 16th 2010

Two people have spent £30 000 excavating a wall in the hope of reselling it in Croydon.
Banksy has now refused to confirm it is his.
"All in all it's just another brick in the wall " said Banksy.
For the full story read Banksy News


Banksy The Movie Jan 21st 2010
Well it had to happen. It will be showing at the upcoming Sundance Festival.
Called "Exit through the gift shop. The banksy movie is sure to add to the banksy legend.
Rumour has is that AXXO has said he will release the Banksy movie on the net before it is shown.



Banksy v Robbo Jan 3rd 2010

The boy from the sticks seems to have been upsetting a Cockney tagger. Read on.
It seems Banksy and a tagger by the name of Robbo or as graffiti kids like to say "writer" have had a slight altercation according to the word on the street. It seems like Robbo's tag had lasted 25 years until the young upstart Banksy decided to renovate it. Robbo who has said he has given Banksy a slap in the past seems to have had the last laugh until now.
Although we think that Robbo and Banksy are buddies and it is just another tale made up for the gullible by the gullible. Banksy likes nothing more than extracting the urine out of the press.
Anyway the photos before,after and after after are underneath.




September 16th
Bristol says yes to Graffiti

After the success of Banksy's summer show which saw over 300 000 vistors adding £10 million to the local economy the council looks set to approve graffiti around the city. People will be able to vote online to have their say.
Banksy murals such as the Mild Mild West have become tourist attractions. Opponents of graffiti say that it is very sad that the once proud city of Bristol is now infamous for graffiti and say that they wouldn't mind but most of these graffiti artists are nice boys in their late thirties who live at home with their mum. Time to grow up they say and get a proper job.


June 13th
Told You So

Like we announced one week before the media got hold of it, Banksy has a new summer show in Bristol.
Ok we got it wrong in that we thought it would last a few weeks when it is going to last 3 months. So no excuses for not getting down to see the legend at work. Here's the info:


Bristol City Museum
BS8 1RL
Banksy Versus Bristol Museum
Saturday 13 June - Sunday 31 August
FREE EXHIBITION
Open Daily 10am- 5pm

Bristol's City Museum & Art Gallery is proud to present a unique collaboration between the city's foremost cultural institution and one of the region's most infamous artists.
Banksy has gained notoriety in recent years by using stencils to paint images on a diverse array of outdoor locations. This is the first exhibition in a three storey Edwardian museum.


June 6th
NEW BANKSY SHOW IN BRISTOL

It looks like next week that Banksy will be doing a new show. This will probably last for a few weeks before his annual jaunt to Glastonbury. As soon it is open I will post details here.

May 13 th 2009

Seems like the credit crunch is not affecting lovers of Banksy judging by how much the following piece fetched.
Banksy sells for 230 000 dollars in Sothebys

April 7/09

One of Banky’s best loved work was destroyed yestererday “The Mild Mild West “
was splattered yesterday with red paint by a group calling themselves “Appropriate Media”. Recently many Banksy pieces have been defaced. It would not surprise us if Banksy was behind the defacing .



Banksy has donated this piece to a charity which helps asylum seekers.

Banksy 'Pants' - spray paint and emulsion on board - 1200mm x 845mm

Unique - signed on front in pen
This piece comes with a certificate of authentication from Pest Control Office

Banksy generally signs his work on the back, but he has signed this painting on the front. He has donated his painting to raise funds for destitute asylum seekers through this online charity auction.

Banksy says: "I think it’s the duty of any civilised country to provide refugees with the basics of human survival. Just because I personally only change my pants once every six weeks doesn't mean every asylum seeker should have to do the same."

100% of funds raised by this auction will go towards buying food and other essentials for those supported by New North London Synagogue's Destitute Asylum Seeker Drop In (reg charity 1094668).

Destitute asylum seekers have had their asylum claims refused. They live here in fear, terrified of being forcibly returned home where they face more of the persecution they originally fled from. Many are survivors of torture and have lost loved ones in conflicts back home. They are not allowed to work and in most cases are not eligible for housing or benefits. Many go hungry and some have been diagnosed with malnutrition. They don't even have the money to buy underwear which is basic to human dignity, and so our celebrities have signed underwear to both raise funds for them and draw attention to their plight.

UPDATE APRIL 3RD. SOLD FOR £30 100. WELL DONE BANKSY.