Having been nestled in the heart of Covent Garden for a year, the major exhibition The Art of Banksy will close on 22nd May 2022 and begin its tour to locations across the nation, continuing as the world’s largest touring collection of Banksy artworks. Having toured internationally through Melbourne, Tel Aviv, Auckland, Toronto, Miami, Gothenburg, Chicago, San Francisco and Sydney, The Art of Banksy’s new UK route will give Banksy lovers everywhere the chance to see his most explosive pieces from private collections across the globe, learn about his works for charity and discover unique stories behind loved works.
The Bristol-born artist was named the UK’s favourite artist in a YouGov poll in 2019, taking lead over traditional artists like Claude Monet and Vincent van Gogh. While the public are familiar with Banksy’s iconic pieces in public spaces, The Art of Banksy also shows rare works never seen to the public before. With an in-depth look at his work, processes, inspirations and ’stunts’, the wide range of works reveals the core themes of Banksy’s work that has earned him international accliam; the power of art to affect social change, inspire the public and lay bare the undercurrents of social issues with understated wit.
The Art of Banksy features over 100 original works, from prints and screenprints to colossal works on canvas. The exhibition highlights works made for charities like the Bethlehem Arab Society for Rehabilitation, the NHS and activists like Greenpeace. The sale of a CND Soldiers print recently raised £81,000 for Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital in Kyiv, carrying the original anti-war message that the original mural had when created in 2003 after the outbreak of the Iraq War. It is estimated that Banksy has raised almost £30 million for charity, showing just how transformative artwork can be.
Showstopper pieces like the colossal Brace Yourself (2010) also bring fascinating stories from Banksy. Brace Yourself made headlines in 2010 when the work Banksy gifted the painting to the band formerly known as ‘Exit Through the Gift Shop’, in exchange for the rights to their name. Featuring a dodgem-riding Grim Reaper, this is one of the largest artworks ever created by Banksy, and a rare chance to see this infamous piece.
The Art of Bansky offers a unique opportunity to learn about the Banky’s work in a way not possible on the street. Banksy is widely considered one of the world’s most political artists. A Samsung poll in 2017 ranked Girl with Balloon as the United Kingdom’s number one favourite artwork, while in 2010, Time Magazine included Banksy in its list of the worlds’ 100 most influential people, among the company of Barack Obama and Steve Jobs. The artist’s history of pranks has also contributed to this reputation, having performed powerful statement acts such as secretly installing a shredder into Girl With Balloon, to make the work self-destruct just moments after it was sold at auction for nearly $1.4 million. While Banksy is renowned for bringing his artworks to the public space as an act of protest, The Art of Banksy exhibition provides the public with a space to understand the acclaimed artist with a survey of his artworks.
As well as showcasing his famous and lesser-known works, the exhibition features six screens broadcasting a series of interviews with Banksy’s former printer. What it was like to work with the famous street artist and why printing was chosen over spray painting are just some of the exclusive insights visitors get, along with personal anecdotes and hilarious first-hand testimony of how the pair first came to work together.
The Art of Banksy has welcomed over 1 million visitors throughout its global tour. The mysterious artist has not endorsed this exhibition, keeping the display of his works in true, revolutionary style. Before kicking off its UK tour, visitors can’t miss the last chance to see the exhibition in London.
