Though his graffiti is renowned worldwide and his artwork consistently sells for large sums, the graffiti artist known as Banksy remains anonymous.
Banksy has been leaving powerful displays with sprays since the 1990s. While he primarily leaves his stenciled murals in England, Banksy travels all around the world to spray-paint politically relevant art. With each piece, he leaves a compelling statement.
Read on to discover five of Banksy’s most famous—and controversial—works of art.
1. Love is in the Air
Jerusalem, Israel
2003
This mural depicts a man dressed like a militant with his arm pulled back, ready to throw something. But instead of a grenade, he holds a bouquet of flowers, symbolizing universal peace.
Although its original versions in London have been removed, Banksy’s recreation of this mural in Jerusalem, painted shortly after the construction of the West Bank Wall separating Israel and Palestine in 2003, signifies a call for peace between the two nations.
2. Love Is in the Bin
London, England
2018
Banksy originals are highly valued. Some people have removed entire walls that Banksy has graffitied—they’re willing to resort to extreme lengths to gain monetary value from selling his original art. Though Banksy sells his own prints on occasion, he doesn’t sell them for much. And since these prints are so rare, people dying to get their hands on an original will turn to the secondary market and pay large sums of money to win them at auctions . . . much to Banksy’s disapproval.
To combat this, Banksy released a framed recreation on canvas of one of his most famous works, Girl with Balloon, which inevitably made its way into an auction house a few years later. Shortly after the gavel dropped at Sotheby’s auction and the sale was finalized at £18,582,000 (then equivalent to about $25.4 million), the piece began to self-destruct by shredding itself within the frame.
However, the piece stopped shredding halfway through, remaining partially intact. Banksy later released a video which revealed his intentions for the painting to have shredded itself completely, stating, “In rehearsals it worked every time . . .”
Girl with Balloon has since transformed into Love Is in the Bin, remaining a powerful statement on wealth and art auctioning.
3. Taekwondo Competition
Borodianka, Ukraine
2022
Another mural appeared a few weeks after Russian airstrikes hit Ukraine. The artwork features a young boy flinging a grown man to the ground in a martial arts match. The man is widely believed to represent Vladimir Putin, who had his honorary black belt revoked earlier that year by World Taekwondo.
4. Birds of a Feather
Clacton-on-Sea, England
2014
This mural shows several pigeons on a wire, grouped together and holding signs that say, “Migrants not welcome,” “Go back to Africa,” and “Keep off our worms.” A smaller, more exotic bird cowers on the other side of the wire and looks at the group of pigeons from a distance.
The satirical graffiti appeared in the middle of an election district that seated Douglas Carswell, whose political party actively campaigns for immigration restriction. Carswell was expected to retain his seat the following Thursday.
Within 48 hours of its appearance, the mural was chemically removed by officials, who claimed that the mural was offensive and racist. Banksy later posted a photo of the mural on his Instagram before the removal.
5. Girl Frisking Soldier
Bethlehem, Palestine
2022
This artwork depicts an unexpected image: a small girl patting down a soldier. Located on the West Wall of Bethlehem, this piece is associated with the cruel reality of the reverse, which is likely a more common scene in modern Palestine. Through his choice of location and topic for this art, Banksy once again brings social and political issues to the attention of the public eye.
Banksy has left his mark—or, rather, his marks—in cities all over the world. Though some have been removed, sold, or censored, many of his pieces remain today, free for anyone to visit. Travelers are most likely to find Banksy originals across England (especially in London), though murals in France, Ukraine, the United States, and the West Bank continue to paint this graffiti artist’s legacy.