Banksy, a street artist shrouded in mystery, is believed to have been born in Bristol in the early 1970s. He rose to prominence with his provocative stencilled pieces which started appearing on the streets of Bristol in the late 1990s. His name (or pseudonym) has become synonymous with graffiti culture and modern art installations. He is arguably the most controversial street artist in the world and has developed an entire art subculture devoted to his work. Even after 20 years of being involved with the graffiti scene, Banksy refuses to be interviewed and keeps his identity carefully maintained.
The most common medium Banksy uses is spray paint over multi-layered stencils along with free hand painting. He also includes anything found in the streets like street signs and other objects to convey his message. These subversive and satirical artworks often use dark humour to provide social and political commentary and regularly feature anti-war, anti-capitalist or anti-establishment slogans.
