Who is Banksy? The identity of the artist, one of the best known in the contemporary and urban genre, remains a mystery. More than two decades have passed since his first works appeared on the streets, and his identity has been safeguarded.
Until now. If a few days ago the accusation of the graffiti artist in a defamation lawsuit could be the first step to finally reveal the identity of the artist, now new information has emerged that has finally given the first real information: his name.
Specifically, his first name. The “blame” for the leak of this information lies with an old BBC interview, in which the artist himself gives his name to the journalist in charge of dealing with him.
In the interview, which dates back to 2003, Banksy is asked by reporter Nigel Wrench if his name is “Robert Banks”, to which he replies, “It’s Robbie”. Whether that is his real name or not, only the graffiti artist himself knows, but at that time, when he was barely in his twenties, it is assumed that he would have told the truth.
The name “Robbie”, given by Banksy in the interview, thus confirms the speculations that have existed for years on social networks about the artist’s real name, with “Robert”, “Robin” and “Robbie” being the most popular and commented among his followers.
The artist, a native of the British city of Bristol, also explains in this interview how he conceives his works, in which “speed” prevails. This is one of the first conversations with Banksy, who for years has been considered one of the most mysterious contemporary artists.
Until now, the theory that seems to gain the most strength about Banksy’s identity is the one published by the Daily Mail in 2007, which after an investigation suggested that the artist was actually Robin Gunningham, a 53-year-old man born in Bristol. However, he could be Robert Banks. We will have to wait and see if his indictment in an alleged defamation case against businessman Andrew Gallagher reveals any mystery about the most mysterious artist of the new millennium.
