Banksy British, b. c. 1974/1975

Banksy is one of the most controversial artists working in England today. Despite many attempts to unveil his true identity, he has remained incognito, known only by his pseudonym.

He first rose to fame in the late 1990s for his graffiti works, combining spray paint and stencilling provocative contemporary imagery. This visual commentary often criticises capitalism, war, and politics by depicting apes, rats, policemen and children on the sides of corporate buildings or across billboards. In addition to his reactionary street art, Banksy is an installation artist and was the subject of the 2010 documentary Exit Through the Gift Shop.

He currently lives and works in Bristol, England.