Facts about Banksy Artist and His Best Artworks

Banksy is one of the legendary artists who captures the hearts of viewers with his unique and deep street art. There’s more to them than just abstract oil paintings on canvas. He is wildly renowned and, though keeping his true identity a secret, continues to keep his audience in suspense.

As the iconic British artist, Banksy is the one who loves to trick the public and reveal its flaws. For instance, with the scandalous act of having sold some of his canvases right on the street for about $60 per piece, when people thought these were just copies. Now, these paintings are worth $20,000 and up at auctions.

Here are some of his most famous works.

Girl with Balloon

This painting, created in 2003 and belonging to London street art pieces, is a Banksy’s business card. The image was accompanied by the phrase ‘There is always hope’ and, though it’s no longer in the London street, it remains one of the most light-bringing fine art pieces. The original mural today is copied in lots of office painting designs and finds allusions in pop art paintings. There are some worthy examples of abstract painting on canvas for home and office to find in different sizes and shapes.

Banksy used his unsurpassed graffiti stencil technique to create Girl With Balloon. The revolutionary fact about this work is that the British actually chose it as the nation’s favorite artwork in 2017, leaving behind the immortal Fighting Temeraire and The Hay Wain.

It was quite a scene when at Sotheby’s art event in 2018, the silkscreen edition of Girl With Balloon was shredded live and turned into the new Love Is In the Bin canvas.

Pulp Fiction

In this picture, Banksy showed the scene from Tarantino’s movie in 1994 and placed it near Old Street underground station. Even though in 2007 Transport of London painted it over, Banksy came up with another ironic picture of the same characters – this time in banana costumes.

This print is still immensely popular in framed painting pictures and echoes in different merch.

Love Is In the Air

Banksy isn’t somebody who would display romantic topics in a conventional way. This large wall painting wasn’t placed in London either: for this purpose, the author chose the West Bank Wall between Palestine and Israel. The canvas is both touching and ironic – the man throws the bouquet of flowers as he would do with an explosive cocktail. This demonstrates the incredible power of love over wars and conflicts.

Devolved Parliament

Now, unlike its older sisters, this picture is finally a true canvas oil painting. Being created in 2018, it was repainted at the author’s desire right before the exhibition in March 2019. This was the time when Brexit was on the way. Originally it shows a group of chimpanzees being busy in the House of Commons in the United Kingdom.

Nevertheless, it was first named Question Time, but the name was changed together with the looks when Banksy decided to give it a final polish. In over 6 months, this canvas was auctioned and went for $12 million.

The British-born artist Banksy who has been surprising us for over 20 years already, is, without doubt, a living legend. With notes of irony, an impeccable sense of aesthetics, and thought-provoking messages, he is sure to continue his career and let us enjoy it.