Banksy (Born 1974) England

Banksy (Born 1974) England
Title: Laugh Now
Stencil Spray Paint on Metal
Measure 18"in H x 12"in W

Known for: Graffiti art with political themes
Biography: A prolific British graffiti artist, political activist and painter, he combines dark humor with graffiti done in a distinctive stenciling technique. His works of political and social commentary have been featured on streets, walls, and bridges of cities throughout the world. According to author and graphic designer Tristan Manco, Banksy "was born in 1974 and raised in Bristol, England. The son of a photocopier technician, he trained as a butcher but became involved in graffiti during the great Bristol aerosol boom of the late 1980s." Banksy started as a freehand graffiti artist as one of Bristol's DryBreadZ Crew (DBZ), with Kato and Tes. He was inspired by local artists and his work was part of the larger Bristol underground scene. From the start he used stencils as elements of his freehand pieces, too. Banksy's stencils feature striking and humorous images occasionally combined with slogans. The message is usually anti-war, anti-capitalist or anti-establishment. Subjects often include rats, monkeys, policemen, soldiers, children, and the elderly. Not surprisingly, his work has stirred up discussion and controversy around the world. In August 2004, Banksy produced a quantity of spoof British ?10 notes substituting the picture of the Queen's head with Princess Diana's head and changing the text "Bank of England" to "Banksy of England." A limited run of 50 signed posters containing ten uncut notes were also produced and sold by Pictures on Walls for ?100 each to commemorate the death of Princess Diana. In April 2007, Transport for London painted over Banksy's iconic image of a scene from Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction, with Samuel L. Jackson and John Travolta clutching bananas instead of guns. On June 13, 2009, the Banksy UK Summer show opened at Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery, featuring more than 100 works of art, including animatronics and installations; it is his largest exhibition yet, featuring 78 new works. He created 10 street pieces around Park City and Salt Lake City for the world premiere of the film Exit Through the Gift Shop at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, on January 24. In April 2010, Melbourne City Council in Australia reported that they had inadvertently ordered private contractors to paint over the last remaining Banksy art in the city. The image was of a rat descending in a parachute adorning the wall of an old council building behind the Forum Theatre. Banksy has self-published several books that contain photographs of his work in various countries as well as some of his canvas work and exhibitions

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