Seeing one of street artist Banksy’s works in person used to be a matter of chance.
You’d have to take a route that went past whichever wall or building or other public space he decided to use as a canvas.
If you wanted to view all or at least a lot of his output, hoo boy. It’s all over the place. While most of it is in England and various European and North American cities, your travels would also take you to conflict hot spots such as Ukraine and the West Bank.
Travel broadens you, of course, and your Banksy tour would be great for your frequent flier miles. The Art of Banksy, though, is at the very least a more convenient approach to viewing the artist’s work.
In fact, the exhibit, on display at Straz Center’s Morsani Hall beginning July 31, showcases the largest authenticated collection of privately-owned Banksy art, more than 160 pieces valued at $35 million.
This includes prints, canvases, screenprints, sculptures and more. It’s an extensive look at the provocative artist who has for years guarded his identity.
In March, news service Reuters published results of its investigation of the artist, determining that Banksy’s real name is Robin Gunningham and that Gunningham changed his legal name to David Jones. A representative for Banksy said that the artist “does not accept that many of the details contained within your enquiry are correct,” but refused to confirm or deny he was Gunningham. Or Jones.
It was, you might say, a very Banksy way of handling the situation. His identity, or his non-identity, is part of his artwork’s impact.
Banksy started spray-painting graffiti in his teens. He adopted his distinctive stencil style, which produced well-known works “Girl With Balloon” and “Flower Thrower (Love Is in the Air),” out of necessity. Hiding from police under an oil-leaking truck, he realized he needed a method quicker than freestyling with spray paint.
The stencil work gave Banksy an identifiable style for his provocative and pointedly political critiques of modern world ills.
The Art of Banksy is a garden of sardonic delights for fans of the artist. In addition to his best-known works, the immersive exhibit features his canvases, prints and sculptures, in addition to works previously unseen by the public.
The original “Flower Thrower” is on display, created by the artist in 1997 as a gift for his then-girlfriend. Also, the show features the U.S. debut of Banksy’s 2003 work “Mona Lisa.” The work was purchased from Banksy by Brad Pitt, who returned it to the artist in 2023 it could be reworked it into its present iteration, “Mona Lisa on Mesh.”
The Art of Banksy is a comprehensive look at the art and career of arguably the most discussed contemporary visual artist. Tickets for the exhibit, which runs through Aug. 30, are available through our website or by calling 813-229-7827.