Art?......i think so.

http://www.banksy.co.uk/

Yes, Banksy is a very well-known graffiti artist. It just depends upon how enlightened the council is where he puts his work whether it stays up or not.

(I could go on an on... I'm in the middle of grading undergrad art and design essays and several of my students are writing about graffiti artists!)

Yes, i read his local council in Bristol are keeping anything he does. I liked the museum film too

I'd say most of Bristol likes his art, however many older Bristolians consider it damage to public property.  One of my favorites here is "The Mild Mild West" on Gloucester Road.

There was a big hubbub in Weston when the Council painted over one of his pieces. It's actually worked in Adam's favour, though, since some of his work uses the stencil concepts of Banksy as a base.

One that was more Banksy-esque is being packed up right now to ship to its new owner. Peers

So does anyone actually know whether
1. banksy is one guy
2. actually a guy

I have to admit, I do really like the persona he's created

How can we be certain?

http://arts.guardian.co.uk/features/story/0,,999712,00.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banksy

ahh Banksy is brilliant.

I don't think tagging is art - it's like a toddler putting crayon on the wall cos they can is kind of how I see it.

Nothing useless can be truly beautiful is one of my favourite quotes - Banksy's work is pleasant business for the eye and the mind because it's surprising and it makes you pause, at the very least double take.

There was a Banksy style painting in Durham near the students union that I loved seeing.

I've never heard of Banksy until this, just took a look at the website and I think all those images on public property are fantastic!

I'm biased though, when I was a teenager, one of my good friends was a Hip Hip style Graffiti artist and of course had to do all his stuff illegally but in similar places. More dangerous but 'street cred' places earned respect of others who did similar, back then, they took photo's as soon as the piece was finished as it usually was a matter of days before the council would paint over it.

Some of his work was totally mind blowing, 20 foot long and 8-10 foot high spectacular graffiti art completed in one night!

It got to the point he had a meeting with the council and was 'given' a wall to graffiti on! I think it was something like over 6 months he could change it 3 times so long as he told the Police in advance he'd be painting there!

He'd still do his London Underground pieces as well and of course make sure he wasn't caught, it's unfortunate that British Transport Police didn't look on it as art, rather as vandalism - he lost 2 of his friends being chased by the transport police as in attempts to get away they touched the live 3rd rail.

To me, most definitley, when graffiti is done like this, it's Art - no question - and this Banksy has a great socio political satire/slant on many of the pieces - Great stuff!

I only ever got to the stage of getting a A3 piece of paper and being able to copy/sketch stuff - I tried to learn how to use a spray can, but didn't quite get it !

Cheers, DtM! West London & Slough UK!

Obviously other people think so too.....


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7228790.stm