Author: R.A.

A chronological Banksy retrospective
2025, Ephemera, Glastonbury, Prints

Migrant raft poster at Glastonbury. 19 July 2025

by R.A.

There has been some controversy over whether it is a work by Banksy. We now know it is.

Screenshot: @lalinternacali
Screenshot: @lalinternacali

The motive relates to Banksy’s intervention at the 2024 edition of the festival, where he released a migrant raft during The Idles’ set on the main stage. See previous post: https://banksyunofficial.com/2024/07/01/banksy-confirms-migrant-raft-at-glastonbury-30-june-2024/

The poster was on sale for a few days at the La Linterna printshop at Glastonbury, until they sold out. It’s the second year that Team Banksy has collaborated with the Colombian printers. Last year’s posters by Team Banksy were numbers 1 and 4 in the display below:

La Linterna is a historic printing shop located in the San Antonio neighbourhood of Cali, Colombia, founded in 1934. It specialises in the artisanal printing of posters using traditional techniques such as linocut and movable type. The printing shop is notable for preserving antique machines, some from the 19th century. Thanks to their artisanal process, each poster is unique and an authentic work of art. La Linterna has a European branch that collaborates with different summer festivals. Source: https://lalinternacali.com and @lalinternacali

2025, Europe (excl. UK), Street Art

Lighthouse confirmed in Marseille, France. 29 May 2025

by R.A.8 Comments on Lighthouse confirmed in Marseille, France. 29 May 2025
Photo: @banksy
Photo: @banksy

The lighthouse is located in the 7ème Arrondissement district, close to the old port of Marseille. Pictures of the piece have circulated on X since 21 May, but it was not officially confirmed until 3 p.m. on Thursday, 29 May.

The motive is most likely related to the rescue boat MV Louise Michel, which is financed by Banksy and named after French teacher and activist Louise Michel, born on this day in 1830: 

Source: https://www.instagram.com/louisemichelcrew/

As always with Banksy, there are multiple interpretations: it has also been rumoured to be a tribute to the artist known as “Lonely Farmer”, a ‘cult artist’ who recently passed away and had a special relationship with Team Banksy.

2025, Charity, Street Art

Banksy interviews Tox in the Big Issue. 17 March 2025

by R.A.

In this week’s edition of The Big Issue, Banksy interviews TOX, one of Britain’s most prolific and notorious graffiti artists. In the interview, Banksy explains why he has used TOX on numerous occasions in his street art:

“In several of my paintings I’ve put your tag in the background,” Banksy says to TOX. “I kind of use it to signify ‘generic urban decay, damage and abandonment’. No offence. I guess I should’ve asked beforehand, but is that OK?”

“I don’t mind,” TOX responds. “I always had people saying, ‘Banksy’s using your name, when are you going to call him and cash in, he owes you money,’ and I was like, ‘Nah I don’t care, he stuck me up, I don’t care, let him do it.’ I just cared about painting graffiti and stealing spray paint and being me init.”

TOX was sentenced to two years in prison in 2011, which inspired Banksy to paint ‘Boy blowing bubbles’ in Camden Town, using a TOX tag as a prop. Interesting link: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2011/jun/07/tox-graffiti-artist-criminal-damage

Boy blowing bubbles with a TOX tag. Banksy, June 2011. Photo: http://www.banksy.co.uk

This week’s Big Issue is dedicated entirely to graffiti, with TOX’s even more notorious graffiti colleague, 10 Foot, as the temporary editor-in-chief. You can buy the Big Issue here: Big Issue shop.

The Big Issue is a United Kingdom–based street newspaper founded by John Bird and Gordon Roddick in September 1991 and published in four continents. The Big Issue is one of the UK’s leading social businesses. It exists to offer homeless people or individuals at risk of homelessness the opportunity to earn a legitimate income, thereby helping them reintegrate into mainstream society. It is the world’s most widely circulated street newspaper. Source: Wikipedia

2024, Originals

Madonna with Child. 16 December 2024

by R.A.

Team Banksy posted the image on Instagram around 3 pm on Monday, 16 December. Through the years, Banksy has created various renditions of the Virgin Mary and Child Jesus motif. This version on a galvanised steel plate is superb.

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

The ‘Madonna with Child’ was initially displayed at a private exhibition organised by Pest Control Office in London in February 2024:

Madonna with Child. Private exhibition, London, February 2024. Photo: Screenshot from UAA Forum

It’s not the first time Banksy mixes biblical references with politics at Christmas time:

21 December 2019
Illustration for Interview in Financial Times.
15 December 2017
Angels at the Segregation Wall. Bethlehem, December 2017
Poster for the play Alternativity. Bethlehem. December 2017

2024, Auctions, Ephemera, USA

Interesting interview with Steve Lazarides about Banksy’s early years. 14 October 2024

by R.A.

Steve Lazarides undoubtedly has played a significant role in Banksy’s career, both as his agent during his most defining period from 2002 to 2008 and as his photographer. The 30-minute documentary/interview is part of the promotion for an upcoming auction at Julien’s in Los Angeles, where Lazarides is selling a chunk of his unique Banksy collection. 

The auction catalogue has some spectacular pieces—original drawings, sketches, handwritten notes, proof screen prints, etc. Here is the link to the auction:

https://www.juliensauctions.com/en/auctions/under-duress-the-banksy-archive-of-steve-lazarides-565

2024, Street Art, UK

Day 9 of London residency: Great escape at London Zoo. 13 August 2024

by R.A.

Now we know where all the animals came from. The animal kingdom series obviously has a lot to do with the summer riots in London in the previous weeks. One can discern a stoic approach: nature is the only true force, and when you encounter adversity, face it with resilience, humour, and a charitable spirit. 

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

BBC News did a feature on the Animal Kingdom series:

2024, Street Art, UK

Day 6 of London residency: chained leopard in Cricklewood, northern London. 10 August 2024

by R.A.

The leopard is doing the morning stretch while sharpening the claws on a scratching post. Someone might say it’s a panther, but isn’t the panther just a leopard with black fur?

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

Anyway, there are quite a few leopards in the Banksy imagery:

Walled Off, canvas

Banksy’s handling office, Pest Control, issued a statement on the meaning of the London series of animals:

“The artist’s vision is ­simple: the latest street art has been designed to cheer up the public ­during a period when the news headlines have been bleak, and light has often been harder to spot than shade. Banksy’s hope, it is understood, is that the uplifting works cheer ­people with a moment of unexpected ­amusement, as well as to ­gently underline the human capacity for ­creative play, rather than for destruction and negativity. Some recent theorising about the deeper significance of each new image has been way too involved, Banksy’s support organisation, Pest Control Office, has indicated.”

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/article/2024/aug/10/meaning-new-banksy-series-revealed-latest-london-artwork