Who's Banksy? Theories about his true identity

British, male, white, blond, and forty-something: that is Banksy according to clues gathered by journalists over the years. But who is he really? It's one of the best-kept secrets in the world.

People believe Banksy grew up in the British town of Bristol because all of his early works appeared there.

For Banksy, anonymity is one of the main aspects of his artistical personality. People keep guessing who he is, though. Some think Banksy is Robin Gunningham, a graffiti artist from Bristol.

Others say his alter ego is Robin Banks. With its reference to bank robbery, this name would befit the subversive character of the artist.

Image: Niv Singer / Unsplash

Another theory about Banksy's identity pictures him in a humble, working-class family. Rumor has it that he is the son of a butcher in Bristol. Someone came up with it, for reasons unknown, and since everything about Banksy is so mysterious, people simply repeated the rumor until it became a common assumption.

Image: Nicolas J. Leclercq / Unsplash

The most substantial theory about Banksy's identity comes from journalist Craig Williams. He suggests that Banksy is Robert Del Naja of the band Massive Attack.

Williams noticed that works from Banksy appeared wherever Massive Attack gave a performance. This seems absurdly coincidental to him.

Image: Dscreet films / Youtube

Banksy agreed to promote the documentary 'Exit Through the Gift Shop' at the Sundance festival. He painted a number of works in Park City, the town in Utah where the film premiered. Toying with the mystery surrounding his identity, he managed to keep it a secret.

Few people claim to have met Banksy. Journalist Simon Hattenstone managed to interview him once, early in Banksy's career. Street artist Thierry Guetta directed 'Exit Through the Gift Shop' after meeting Banksy casually during a research project.

Image: Belinda Fewings / Unsplash

Whatever his true name, Banksy's ideological identity is easy to comprehend. He is rebellious, to some extent anti-capitalist, a supporter of Palestine (where he made some of his masterpieces), and a bit of an old-school punk.

In 2020, Banksy showed that he supported the Black Lives Matters movement and the anti-racism protests in the U.S. and other parts of the world.

Recently, theories have included the possibility that Banksy is a collective of urban artists rather than just one person. They suggest an international network producing pieces of art in concert and following the unique Banksy style.

Walls in public spaces are Banksy's preferred places to paint. They carry the elements of subversion and surprise. Over time, however, his work has become so famous and rare that art burglars go after it. This tribute to the victims of the 2015 Bataclan attack in Paris, for example, was stolen and later recovered by police in Italy.

Sometimes, Banksy agrees to an exposition in a gallery. The rebellion does not end at the door, however. Remember when he sold a print of his 'Girl with Balloon' and it self-destructed right after the sale? There was a hidden mechanism in the frame to shred the paper. Some attendees at the event say they saw a person filming the whole scene, and they believe it was Banksy. But no one was able to prove it.

Banksy is as popular as Johannes Vermeer, the painter of the original 'Girl with the Pearl Earring.' This mural - the 'Girl with a Pierced Eardrum' - appeared in Bristol as a homage to the victims and health workers in the coronavirus pandemic.

Works from Banksy that people have in their homes are increasingly costly. They are auctioned for hundreds of thousands of dollars, with the most expensive Banksy selling at 9.9 million pounds (12.9 dollars) in 2019, the Evening Standard writes.

As an icon of modern culture, Banksy is very present in our collective knowledge. Yet, we can only picture one of his graffitis when we think of him. One day, his true name and face must come out, though. No mystery can last forever.