The true identity of the elusive street artist Banksy has been revealed as Robin Gunningham, according to a detailed investigation by Reuters. The British graffiti artist, known for his distinctive stencil spray paintings, was born in Bristol in 1973 and had long maintained anonymity under the pseudonym Banksy. However, Reuters has uncovered new details that confirm Gunningham's identity as Banksy.
Key Takeaways
Banksy's true identity has been revealed as Robin Gunningham, who later changed his name to David Jones. The revelation comes from a detailed investigation by Reuters, which uncovered previously unseen police and court documents from a 2000 arrest in New York City. Banksy's works have sold for tens of millions of pounds over the years and have become iconic in the art world.
The investigation began with a trip to war-torn Ukraine, where Banksy created murals on bombed-out apartment blocks. The discovery came after finding new details in a memoir written by Steve Lazarides, a photographer and Gunningham's former manager. In September 2000, Gunningham was arrested for defacing a billboard in New York City. Police documents from the arrest confirm his identity as Banksy.
Despite being unmasked in 2008 by The Mail on Sunday, Gunningham continued to maintain his anonymity. After the report, mentions of Gunningham in British public records are few and far between. It seemed as if the report had prompted him to go off-grid. During his time in New York, he stayed for several months in the Carlton Arms Hotel in Manhattan, which lets artists stay for free in return for decorating their rooms.
The investigation also revealed that Gunningham changed his name to David Jones—a common British name—in 2008 to avoid identification. This change of name helped him maintain anonymity and continue his artistic endeavors without being recognized. The discovery has sparked a debate about the importance of anonymity in art and the impact it has on an artist's work.
Banksy's lawyer, Mark Stephens, urged Reuters not to publish its report, saying it would violate the artist's privacy and put him in danger. However, Reuters defended naming Banksy, arguing that the public has a deep interest in understanding such a prominent cultural figure's identity and career. The revelation of Banksy's true identity marks a significant moment in the art world, shedding light on one of its most enigmatic figures.
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