Urban Graffiti as Art: Banksy
The work of the British urban guerrilla artist known only as Banksy.
To many the sight of a wall scrawled with spray paint is an eyesore and depressing.
It purports a careless society. It reminds us of vandalism and thugs on the streets.
But what if the graffiti was intelligent, thought provoking or just plain funny?
Such is the work of the British urban guerrilla artist known only as Banksy.
Thought to have first appeared in Bristol, his works are usually of layered stencil.
One of his commonest images is of rats.
Sometimes by adding them to an existing notice or object, what is plain and uninteresting becomes amusing. In the next two images he brings a smile to the face by decorating a “No Swimming” sign with a rat in a lifebelt, and of one breaking into a meter.
Not only the walls are used for his work. The pavements are used to add to the image, and sometimes one wall is not enough.
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The above picture of the Cop Snorting Coke is one of many images of the police, that he has done over the years since he first started in the early 90s.
Perhaps it is a challenge for them to catch him. (Not an easy job as he remains completely anonymous, known only to close friends and his agent.)
Perhaps not. Maybe it’s just his sense of humour. He’s placing them in situations we would not normally see them in.
Other topics that he covers are more thought provoking, like these children swearing allegiance to the supermarket giant Tesco.
Much of his work appears to be commenting on how he sees modern society and the way we live today.
Is it art? Does society think it is?
The answer must be yes, as local Councils, under pressure from local inhabitant are working to preserve these works.
How long will they last? Who knows, but as the value of his studio works rise into the hundreds of thousands of pounds and there are web sites that show the map locations of “Banksys”, I have a feeling that many Councils will keep them as Tourist attractions.
This is the first in a series of articles.The next are
Banksy in Bethlehem: Art and the Barrier Between Two Nations
Banksy Storms New Orleans: Banksy vs the Grey Ghost
Urban Graffiti Artist Banksy Opens a Pet Shop
Banksy Gunrat Will Double Value of British Pub
Banksy: How to Make Millions with Spraycan and Stencil
Banksy Punked Paris Hilton: Cunning Stunts
Two New Banksy Graffiti Artworks Appear in London
Or all may be seen on Triond at
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22 Comments
borkmadjai, posted this comment on Oct 1st, 2008
bansky is the best.. 
Kiki Stamatiou, posted this comment on Oct 1st, 2008
I like this. It’s a very interesting take on art. I like the pictures, in that they made me think. I hope Bansky’s work survives for many generations yet to come.
Take Care,
Kiki Stamatiou (Joanna Maharis)
Lasan, posted this comment on Oct 1st, 2008
I like this article and I like Banksy’s art.
s hayes, posted this comment on Oct 1st, 2008
Good one C.
diane mccloskey, posted this comment on Oct 1st, 2008
freedom of expression. gotta love it.
Liane Schmidt, posted this comment on Oct 1st, 2008
The pictures are absolutely extraordinary - thank you for creating this wonderful article.
Blessings.
Sincerely,
-Liane Schmidt.
ebazaar, posted this comment on Oct 2nd, 2008
First time I saw this: It’s raging arts. Another creative form of expression and I think this Banksy guy really let it out with his touch on the walls, and they are really good…
Lost in Arizona, posted this comment on Oct 2nd, 2008
Excellent article. I’ve always loved graffiti art, or I should say, well done graffiti art, and not the scrawling. I’ve always liked Basquiat. It’s just a shame he died when he was at his peak. His art I think is what catapulted the whole idea of graffiti art. Again, well done.
Darlene McFarlane, posted this comment on Oct 2nd, 2008
This was thoroughly enjoyable.
Sen, posted this comment on Oct 3rd, 2008
It is a very basic and latent human tendecy to scrible or draw something on a wall as it was the first way of communication we ever had. This early stage civilization element is still very much alive within all humans, as an inherited urge or as psychologists call it, the collective concious. Banksy has just given it a vent and it turned out to be marvelous. I personally feel that its much better to have something like that on the walls instead of plain concrete structures.
And C, you deserve an ovation for taking so much pain to go around collecting all those pics and doing that research. Good show.
C. Jordan , posted this comment on Oct 3rd, 2008
Thank you all for your remarks. You’re quite right Sen, after all the first examples of art were cave and rock paintings.
BC Doan, posted this comment on Oct 4th, 2008
It’s a form of art, and some of them are really great!
RJ Evans, posted this comment on Oct 4th, 2008
Excellent stuff! A cool read and great images!
eddiego65, posted this comment on Oct 4th, 2008
Awesome art work. Great article.
Fossa, posted this comment on Oct 5th, 2008
Awesome Article. The only good graffiti we get around here is the occasional artwork on a train passing thru
M R Amell, posted this comment on Oct 9th, 2008
Very good.. I wrote about graffiti in college, but had never heard of Banksy. But that was xxx (you don’t wanna know) years ago :X
I wish it had been shown to me back then. i was an art student at the time as well.
Lostash, posted this comment on Oct 12th, 2008
He has a unique talent…..and I say it’s ART!
Lucas Dié, posted this comment on Oct 15th, 2008
Great compilation on an outstanding artist
Anna Ski, posted this comment on Oct 17th, 2008
I’m glad that I clicked on it, it’s just too good to miss!!!! You’re so good and the art!!!
Rookie Expert, posted this comment on Oct 28th, 2008
Good graffiti pictures, Banksy has a good sense of humour!
thestickman, posted this comment on Nov 13th, 2008
Wow… amazing!
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goodselfme, posted this comment on Oct 1st, 2008
A neighbor of mine’s son does graffiti art on paper and is very good at it too. Guess if put in proper place it can be appreacited. Nice pics and a good written article. Thank you!