Banksy is the pseudonym used by a street artist who, despite being vastly popular and highly sought-after by collectors, insists on strict anonymity. He’s English, and grew up amid the Bristol music scene of the 80s.
His first appearances as a street artist began around 2000, and were immediately characterized by the use of stencils, outlines on walls, on which he splashed colors. The protagonists of his pieces are children, soldiers, policemen and animals–especially monkeys and mice–which became a sort of trademark. His messages are ironic, desecrating: against consumerism, show-biz society, the authorities who consider street artists outlaws.
His first artistic acclaim came in 2006, when Cristina Aguilera bought one of his pieces for 25,000 pounds. His works soon commanded even higher prices: Bombing Middle England was sold for 100,000 pounds.
Today, his every action, whether in museums, on internationally famous shopping streets or amusement spots half the world over, becomes news, eagerly picked up by the media, and his popularity among art collectors keeps growing.