Banksy could be unmasked as graffiti artist in court case
Banksy, the world’s most famous graffiti artist, could finally be unmasked after a case was filed against him in the UK High Court.
He’s the most famous graffiti artist in the world - and he may finally be unmasked.
A splash of paint from Banksy can make a simple brick wall worth millions. And when his works are destroyed, that sparks outrage.
His identity has been the subject of intense speculation, but so far his real name remains unknown.
Banksy might be drawn out of his anonymity due to a lawsuit relating to an Instagram post.
The left-wing artist is being sued for about $2.6 million after allegedly urging shoppers to target high street fashion store Guess.
In a since-deleted post allegedly made on November 18, Banksy’s Instagram account, which has 12 million followers, used an image of a Guess shop window with the words: “Alerting all shoplifters. Please go to GUESS on Regent Street.
“They’ve helped themselves to my art without asking. How can it be wrong to do the same to their clothes.”
A case of libel has been filed with the UK High Court by Andrew Gallagher who has made a business out of selling images of Banksy’s work through his company Full Colour Black, The US Sun reports.
Gallagher, is also brand director of Brandalised, a company which collaborates with street artists. The entrepreneur made his name by organising raves in the 1990s.
The case is part of a long-running feud between Gallagher and the Banksy collective - thought to be made up of a number of artists.
Full Colour Black claims that the post “contained defamatory words which referred to, and were understood to refer to, the Claimant”.
Gallagher is suing “The Artist known as ‘Banksy’ and Pest Control Office Limited, the body that authenticates his art”.
Full Colour Black is seeking at least £1,357,086 ($2.6m) in damages and an injunction preventing further alleged defamation.
It is unlikely Banksy will appear in court in person.
Gallagher’s lawyer Aaron Wood stressed they were not suing Robin Gunningham, a Bristol-born artist who some have claimed is Banksy.
Mr Wood told The Sun: “The worst thing that could happen to Banksy is if he gets unmasked by appearing in court.
“His work will change in the public’s view if everyone knows who he is and that he has a backstory.”
Banksy and Pest Control is understood to have acknowledged the High Court writ and has a month to file their defence.
Ever since emerging on the art scene in the late 1990s, Banksy - who found fame on the streets of Bristol with his distinct style of stencilled graffiti images - has remained anonymous.
Despite being known across the globe, Banksy’s true identity has never been revealed.
As graffiti can be considered criminal damage, initially it is thought the artist, whose work has been spotted around the UK and internationally, chose to remain anonymous to avoid a run-in with the law.
Who is rumoured to be Banksy?
In 2008, it was alleged that Banksy is Bristol-born artist Robin Gunningham.
He has been flagged in a number of landmark investigations over the years.
Most notably was when scientists from Queen Mary University used geographical profiling to link him to graffiti found in Jamaica in 2008.
Key to the case was a photograph which showed him in a pair of baggy jeans, an oversized dark blue button up with a set of mischievous glasses on.
As he knelt down in his streetwise kit, he appeared to be surrounded by a smoking gun - stencils, a sketchbook and spray cans.
Banksy denied the picture was him, as did Robin’s parents.
Other reports have suggested that Banksy could be artist and musician Robert del Naja - who made his name as a graffiti artist around Bristol before turning his hand to music.
In 2020, Art Attack presenter Neil Buchanan denied he was Banksy, following an online conspiracy theory about his identity.
Other names in the frame include Gorillaz artist Jamie Hewlett and Mr Brainwash - a Los Angeles-based street artist.
- with The US Sun and The Sun
Originally published as Banksy could be unmasked as graffiti artist in court case
