Portal:Graffiti/Selected article
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Banksy is the pseudonym of a well-known yet anonymous English graffiti artist from Yate near Bristol. His artwork are often satirical pieces of art which encompass topics from politics, culture, and ethics. His street art, which combines graffiti with a distinctive stencilling technique, has appeared in London and in cities around the world.
Banksy started as a freehand graffiti artist then turned to the art of stencilling because it took less time to complete a 'piece'. Banksy's stencils feature striking and humorous images occasionally combined with slogans.
The message presented is usually anti-war, anti-capitalist, anti-establishment or pro-freedom. Subjects include animals such as monkeys and rats, policemen, soldiers, children and the elderly. There has been much controversy about Bansky's work, with Peter Gibson, a spokesperson for Keep Britain Tidy asserting that Banksy's work is simple vandalism. Banksy has also self-published several books that contain photos of his work in various countries as well as some of his canvas work and exhibitions, accompanied by his own writings. Banksy has grown to become the most famous Stencil Artist in the World.
Despite much speculation, Banksy's true identity remains unknown.