Cryptic Facts About Banksy, The Mysterious Street Artist
Banksy seems to be the most and least well-known artist alive today. On the one hand, he’s extremely popular and almost everyone has heard of him or seen his work at some point or another.
On the other hand, no one seems to know his true identity, which he keeps very well hidden. Yet, regardless of who he (Or she? Or they?) is, one thing is certain: that Banksy is as talented as he is controversial.
Read on to learn more about the world's most famous street artist.
1. Sit Down to Be Inspired
Banksy has provided inspiration to many since his rise to international fame, but his inspiration must come from somewhere as well. He says he’s inspired by “3D,”
a graffiti artist turned musician who was a founding member of the group Massive Attack.
2. A Pretty Penny
Once Banksy's work became hyper-famous, the next logical question for most people would be—how do you make people pay for it?
That question is not easily answered, because Banky himself does not sell his graffiti reproductions or his photographs and most of his public art is directly attached to permanent fixtures.
However, that hasn't stopped art auctioneers from selling the work on site and letting the buyer deal with its removal.
3. His Freehand Days are Numbered
Banksy’s art career did not start with his iconic stenciling technique. That artistic shift didn’t occur until one night when he was hiding from the police and noticed a serial number stenciled to the side of a garbage truck.
He realized that it would be a quicker way to get his art onto the streets without getting caught in the act.
4. A Heist Like No Other
The image of the Queen of England has appeared in Banksy’s work more than once, but in 2004 the artist actually replaced the Queen's picture with that of Diana, the Princess of Wales—on the £10 note.
Banksy printed a bunch of these counterfeit bills which read “Banksy of England” on them and they were thrown into a group of people at the Notting Hill Carnival. Later, some of the recipients of the bills tried spending them.
The shops couldn’t take the money, but luckily they are now worth closer to £200 on eBay.
