While street artist Banksy remains as mysterious as ever, his work has only grown more famous (and more valuable) over time. Almost everyone recognises at least one of his iconic graffiti pieces. I enjoyed his 2018 Lazinc exhibition, but this latest show only deepened my fascination with Banksy.

Banksy is now back in London with an “unauthorised exhibition” (meaning he’s not involved), showcasing many of his now-iconic works. It’s by far the most compelling presentation of his art that I’ve seen.

Today, DOYOUSPEAKLONDON invites you to explore the subversive world of Banksy!

Banksy, distinctive graffiti artist

I was thrilled to see this exhibition, touted as “the world’s largest collection of privately owned Banksy art.” Graffiti has always captivated me: illegal, ephemeral, and a sharp reflection of contemporary society in the hands of true masters.

Banksy’s main characters (rats and monkeys) have become so familiar to me that when I’m in East London, I always eagerly look at every corner in the hope of seeing one of them.

This time, Bansky’s work is showcased in Covent Garden, with this so-called “unauthorised exhibition” as the artist himself did not participate in it, nor agreed to it.

What makes this exhibition so remarkable is the sheer number of works on display.

I was amazed to keep discovering pieces as sharp as the ones I already knew, art that questions society, channeling anger and fear through satire.

Banksy’s largest private collection

The exhibition displays Banksy’s work in chronological order, showcasing prints, canvases, screenprints, sculptures, unique pieces, and limited editions, mainly from 1997 to 2008, the period when his fame truly soared.

I knew Banksy had started his graffiti in Bristol and had his style well-defined from the start. What I learned at this exhibition though is the nerve he had to do well-targeted jokes, like this one below at The British Museum, infiltrating “the Peckham rock” and waiting for it to be spotted!

I loved his allusion to Cannes Festival with this stencil art exhibition he organised in 2008.

Ten years later, Banksy organized a memorable stunt in art history with his most famous creation, Girl with balloon, that made speak about him.

At the time (2006), I completely missed out on Banksy’s stunt against Paris Hilton’s debut album and was amused by the all story (below)!

This exhibition was very complete and well-detailed, it was a pleasure to retrace Banksy’s artistic life and see that he never lost his appetite for provocation and subversion!

This exhibition is a must-see for every great fan of graffiti! Whether you already know Banksy’s pieces of art (after all, let’s consider graffiti as art) or not, you will definitely enjoy his ability to illustrate the main society topics with a subversive eye…

I hope you’ve enjoyed this post and found inspiration here. If you are planning to visit The Art of Banksy” soon, please share your experience and opinion on DOYOUSPEAKLONDON’s blog!

Explore my other favorite exhibitions, see them here!

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To go further:
The Art of Banksy Unauthorized Exhibition: 50 Earlham Street, London WC2H 9LJ
Website
Trailer

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