Banksy Strikes Again

I have to admit that a week ago I was unaware of the elusive artist known as Banksy. He directed a documentary, Exit Through the Gift Shop, about the rise in popularity and prevalence of street art (different from graffiti/tagging). This documentary is up for an Academy Award next weekend. He is unique in that he remains anonymous and that even for interviews he often has a dark hood or a monkey mask. The Academy Awards have assured him that he is welcome, but they don't want him wearing any disguises to receive his award. 

He lives in England, but appears to have arrived in L.A. (and made his presence known!) His work popping up has created quite the buzz. He began by hitting a billboard along Sunset Boulevard on Wednesday. The work was promptly removed and rolled in a ball (which is a shame because it could have apparently gone for six figures). The company who paid for the billboard has asked for the art and plans to display it in Las Vegas. 

Next he did two figures: one of Charlie Brown with a gas cannister and the other of a dog. "Charlie Burn" sold for $8,100 on eBay and the owner of the building has actually cut the section of concrete out of the building. 

The work creating the most buzz is an image of a boy soldier with a gun, but rather than bullets the gun shoots crayons. This work is on the side of an Urban Outfitters store in Westwood. 

The store already was selling an art book with photographs of his work (which they promptly sold out of) and they are known for supporting alternative culture so many people think that this store should keep the art. Many people have also flocked to it for photographs before anything happens to it. Overnight on Friday someone dumped paint on it, but on Saturday a local cafe owner came to clean the work. Ultimately the owner of the building will decide on the work's fate. This has become one of the most popular stories this week. People anxiously await more of his work popping up or to see if he appears at the Oscars. Granted I don't generally support the direct violation of property, but it's been interesting in that the art (and documentary) opened my eyes to a world that I really didn't know existed. I didn't know that people put that much effort into the art work (and also learned the difference between street art vs. graffiti/tagging). Some of these street artists have also developed loyal followings and have had art shows that have brought in huge figures. 

Coming soon...

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