Banksy (Robin Gunningham, later David Jones) (°1973, Bristol, England) is one of the most influential and recognisable contemporary artists of the twenty-first century. Emerging from Bristol's underground graffiti scene in the 1990s, he revolutionised street art through his distinctive stencil technique, dark humour and politically charged imagery, transforming public spaces into platforms for social and cultural commentary. Reuters identified the artist in 2026 as Robin Gunningham, who later legally changed his name to David Jones, although Banksy himself has never publicly confirmed his identity.
Working largely outside the traditional gallery system, Banksy developed a visual language that combines accessibility with sharp criticism of war, consumerism, surveillance, inequality and political power. His anonymous interventions have appeared on streets, buildings and conflict zones across the world, challenging conventional ideas about authorship, ownership and the role of art in society.
Throughout his career, Banksy has achieved extraordinary international recognition while deliberately remaining outside the established art world. His works are held in major private and institutional collections worldwide, and landmark moments such as the self-destruction of Girl with Balloon immediately after its sale at Sotheby's in 2018—creating the new work Love is in the Bin—have become defining events in contemporary art history. The transformed work was subsequently sold for approximately US$25 million, further reinforcing Banksy's unique position at the intersection of artistic innovation and the global art market.
Today, Banksy remains one of the most sought-after contemporary artists on the international art market. Combining instantly recognisable imagery with enduring cultural relevance, his works continue to command exceptional prices while provoking debate far beyond the traditional boundaries of the art world.