Banksy: The pieces of urban art that you must know

Banksy is one of the most mysterious and controversial artists of our time. His subversive street art and social commentary have made his work recognized around the world. But who is Banksy? Is it one person, a collective, or a conspiracy of artists?

The true identity of Banksy remains a mystery, which has led to many theories and speculations about his origin. Some believe it is a man named Robin Gunningham, while others argue that it is a group of talented artists. But what is clear is that Banksy has left his mark all over the world, creating iconic pieces on walls, bridges, and public buildings.

Although Banksy's work often addresses serious issues such as social and political injustice, his art is also fun and entertaining. From the child playing with a trash bag to the girl releasing a heart-shaped balloon, each Banksy piece has a story to tell.

Impact of Banksy on popular culture

Banksy has challenged traditional norms of art and brought his work directly to the streets, challenging the established art system and generating a new audience for urban art. His distinctive style and social commentary have been imitated by many and he has been a major influencer for the urban art community.

In addition, Banksy's work has reached a broad and diverse audience, largely due to his popularity on social media and online. His works have gone viral and been widely shared around the world, increasing his impact and helping to spread his message.

He has also been an important social and political activist, using his art to address issues such as poverty, war, injustice, and surveillance. He has created striking pieces that have caught the public's attention and generated debate and discussion on important issues.

Banksy's best works

Girl with Balloon

An image of a girl releasing a red heart-shaped balloon. It was originally created as a mural in London in 2002 and has become one of Banksy's most iconic works.

Flower Thrower

Also known as Love is in the Air, this mural shows a protester throwing a bouquet of flowers instead of a stone. It was created in Palestine in 2003.

Brexit

The artwork was created in 2017, shortly after the result of the referendum on the UK's exit from the European Union was announced.

The work shows an image of a worker removing one of the stars from the EU flag, symbolizing the UK's exit from the European Union.

In 2019 the artwork was removed from the side of the building.

Kissing Coppers

A mural in which two policemen passionately kiss. It was painted in Brighton, UK, in 2004.

Mobile Lovers

It is a famous work by Banksy that went viral after it appeared in Bristol, England, in 2014.

The work features two lovers passionately kissing while looking at their mobile phones instead of each other. The image is an ironic criticism of the excessive use of technology and how people can be more connected to their devices than the people around them.

Laugh Now

The work features a monkey in a comedic pose, with an extended hand and a gun bullet that has come off of its middle finger.

The image was created in 2002 and was originally painted on the back of a cargo truck on the street. Since then, it has become one of Banksy's most recognized works and has been reproduced in many different formats.

Kiev

The image was created in 2022 and shows a gymnast performing a balancing exercise on the ruins of a building destroyed by Russian army bombings.

Valentine's Day Mask

On February 14, 2023, this work was revealed which refers to machismo and gender violence.

The work used an abandoned freezer to simulate that the woman in the mural, who is missing a tooth, had thrown a man into the appliance.

Stop and Search

This Banksy artwork was created in 2007 and depicts a young woman being stopped and searched by a police officer who is looking for drugs.

The image is a scathing critique of policing practices in the United Kingdom, which have often been accused of being racially discriminatory and targeting vulnerable people.

The Son of a Migrant from Syria

This was created on a wall in the French city of Calais, near a refugee camp in 2015.

The artwork depicts Steve Jobs with a bag in hand and a Macintosh computer on his back, while wearing a blanket over his shoulders. It is interpreted as a criticism of the fact that Jobs, whose biological father was Syrian, likely would not have been able to immigrate to the United States if he were born today due to stricter immigration policies.