Although street art, commonly known as graffiti, is often considered one of the least respectable or legitimate forms of art, there is one artist who has become internationally famous for his impressive works in this field. Going by the pseudonym Banksy, this British artist is well known for his darkly humorous works, which often express his opinions about controversial issues.

Banksy is also notorious for his almost excessive want for anonymity. His works are recognized and admired worldwide, and there have been numerous attempts from the public to uncover his identity. However, he has resisted with impressive resolution, even refusing to provide a picture of his real face when he was chosen to be in Time magazine as one of the top 100 most influential people.

Banksy’s aversion toward recognition and commercialization has led to his reluctance of allowing his artworks to be sold. He even created his own organization, calling it the Pest Control Office, to protect his identity and help prevent his works from becoming items of profit or marketing.

When Banksy visited New York City in 2013, his global popularity was reaffirmed. Residents of the city went hunting for his works, determined to get a glimpse and take photos before they were destroyed. One of his most remarkable non-2D works during this event, often called “Banksy Does New York”, was “Sirens of the Lambs”. This display consisted of a large delivery truck filled with stuffed animals taking a ride through the meatpacking district, a bold approach to cmmunicating his opinions on the conditions and inhumanity of slaughterhouses. In addition to New York City, Banksy has also visited other cities such as Barcelona and Paris to further spread the messages of his artworks.

Recently, Banksy has even become a successful filmmaker. His documentary called Exit Through the Gift Shop illustrates both the exciting and stressful aspects of the lives of various street artists through footage gathered by Thierry Guetta, a street art fanatic. This film achieved critical acclaim and was even nominated for an Academy Award.

Banksy has changed the entire face of street art, proving that this field of art is legitimate and inspiring more artists to follow in his path.