June 19, 2018 ▸ People

Episode 307: Banksy: Street Artist or Hipster Sellout?

On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we hit the streets like vandals and explore the stencils, tags, and art installations of the mysterious Banksy. Though his real identity is unknown, this artist from the UK has reached a level of social prominence very few artists ever do in their lifetimes. Aside from selling typical art pieces for hundreds of thousands of dollars, the actual sides of buildings he spray paints are worth a fortune and sold in a strange market of wall art.

Most people think Banksy was born in Bristol sometime in the early 1970s. What is known for sure comes from interviews from a guy who they think was most likely Banksy at the time (he was with Banksy’s art dealer and agent, so that’s a plus). He started to tag at the age of 14 while he ran with the DryBreadZ Crew. This gang was known for its street art, and Banksy was a confirmed member, as was 3D who went on to be a founding member of Massive Attack.

After some time on the street, Banksy was hiding under a trash truck and saw a stenciled vehicle number underneath it. From there, his art style was born, and instead of freehand spray paint, his work started to include complex stencils. Banksy’s artwork is mostly political in nature, lampooning government, violence, police states, war, corporations, and greed. One he built a name for himself he did installations at the West Bank, in Bethlehem, and in New Orleans after the Katrina disaster.

His antics and art are often hilarious, and we get quite a few laughs at his stunts and work over the years. The coolest part about him is that even after all these years, an Oscar nomination for his work Exit Through the Gift Shop, art awards, and global fame, nobody still knows who he is. Some people think he’s an artist named Robin Gunningham and others think he’s actually 3D from Massive Attack, which would be dope as hell. If you want to buck the system, Banksy is your man, and this is your podcast.

Guardian Interview: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2003/jul/17/art.artsfeatures

Tom Waits: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/tom-waits-lends-instrumental-song-to-banksys-west-bank-hotel-w510659