Banksy Prints - Artist Biography Who is Banksy and Why is He Important to ArtBanksy is a popular British graffiti artist who is believed to have been born around 1974. He started to get involved in graffiti during the late 1980s. There’re little facts available about Banksy, but his works are popular. The art displays a satirical side of culture, ethics and politics. Banksy employs a stenciling method when he does his work. It can be assumed that he does work just for the sake of painting or doing art. He does not hold exhibitions in art galleries or sell pictures of the graffiti he made. His art was first born out of the Bristol underground scene that involved artists and musicians. Banksy was inspired and influenced by local artists. From 1992 to 1994, he worked as a freehand artist and worked with other writers and artists such as Tes and Kato.
After a couple of
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years, he made a large graffiti on walls alongside the work of a graffiti legend, Inkie. Banksy made the “Walls on Fire”. His name was established in the European graffiti scene when a weekend long event was held. This event magnetized a number of graffiti artists from Ohio and UK.
In 2000, Banksy learned that through stenciling, he could make artworks faster. The stenciling techniques he used are extremely unique. He expresses his humor through combining funny images of animals and people with eye-catching slogans. These are extremely noticeable in his works.
The concepts and messages conveyed by his works are usually anti-capitalist and anti-war. In 2001, he collaborated with James DeWeaver and in 2003, a show called Turf War was held where he painted on animals. This has raised protests from animal rights activists.
Banksy is also known for making challenges in art. He changed the head of Queen Elizabeth with that of Princess Diana’s. He did not stop from here. He also changed the Bank of England into Banksy of England, demonstrating that he can’t express himself in painting only, but in words as well. He also changed Monet’s Water Lily Pond by adding a shopping trolley and litter on the painting.
A vandalizing extravaganza was later held in LA and his exhibition was called Barely Legal. Banksy made artworks showing Queen Victoria as a lesbian as well as made his own version of Mona Lisa. His pieces were a success.
In 2007, his artworks were put for sale in Sotheby's auction house. One of his works reached £102,000. Because of this success, Banksy posted another work in his site, which is a picture of people purchasing his artworks from the auction house.
He also earned an award, but since he does art for the sake of doing it, he did not get his award. His artworks and actions are a reflection of what a brilliant artist is. His works have been prevalent in Europe that they could be found in Berlin, Rome, Paris, London and many other cities. To some, Banksy is considered a political offender due to his chosen subjects. Still, he has lots of fans who continue to purchase his creations from various parts of the world.