The Greatest Banksy Artwork of All Time

Back in the day , before murals were being used by mayors and real-estate agents to drive up apartment prices, graffiti was seen by most as a scourge on the neighborhood. Now, with a fancier name, "street art" is a multi-million dollar affair and is welcomed by city councils worldwide as a way to lure the up-and-coming youths to move in and get that parent money to drive up property taxes. When it comes to street artwork no name is more famous, or to some infamous, than Banksy.

As stylized letter graffiti reached its peak in the late ’90s, graffiti artists began experimenting with new mediums to spread their names and ideas throughout their cities. Stickers, posters, tiles and stencils were plastered and sprayed anywhere people might spot it, basically creating impromptu exhibitions around the city. For most artists, local scene fame was the most to be hoped for, trading polaroids of work or throwing it up on a freight train set to leave town were the only ways to really spread your name outside of your city. But, like basically everything, the internet changed that. Message boards slowly spread great pieces across county lines, then came the rise of Myspace and Flickr (think Facebook and Imgur) which lifted street artists to hero levels.

Along with Swoon, Space Invader, and Shepard Fairey, Banksy quickly became known by many but his work always seems a step of above the rest thanks to his use of space and political wit, with word of mouth spreading from his native England to New York City and beyond. He infused anti-consumerist and egalitarian messages into his work that no one else could seem to copy. As the years progressed his daring and grandiose grew with one stunt after another. Yet the mythos of Banksy remains as he still refuses to identify his true identity.

Although some of his work has been co-opted to "Stay Calm and Carry On," Banksy’s work and attitude is perhaps more important now than before. For all their beauty, murals of abstract shapes or David Bowie do not spark the same kind of discussions or controversy as Banksy’s do. Because of this we decided to recap The Greatest Banksy Artwork of All Time. Whether you enjoy his works, envy his ideas, disapprove of his motives, or admire his style, these 50 works are Banksy’s greatest paintings and pieces to date by our standards.

Stonehenge, 2007

Location: Glastonbury, U.K.

Banksy presented his on take on Stonehenge in 2007. The self-proclaimed "guerilla artist" debuted an installation at the widely-popular Glastonbury Festival in that year. During a phase of favoring installations over his signature stencils, the Bristol artist constructed a Stonehenge model made completely out of Port-a-Potties. Banksy placed the work closely to the "Sacred Space" portion of the field. The piece was immediately frowned upon because it mocked the ancient ruins.

According to The Guardian, Banksy said of his work in Glastonbury, "A lot of monuments are a bit rubbish, but this really is a pile of crap." Banksy's formation of the toilet-henge was later tagged and ragged by visitors. A small-scale re-creation of this work appeared a few years later during an exhibition at the Bristol Museum.

2012 Olympic Pieces, 2012

Location: London

In 2012 London hosted the Summer Olympic Games. The historic event was in Banksy's backyard, and the street artist seized the moment to be a part of it. Unveiling a number of works on July 23, Banksy incorporated the Olympics into satirical pieces perfectly placed around the city. The works ranged from a missile-tossing javelin thrower to a pole vaulter bracing to land on a dirty mattress to a masked gentleman snatching the red-ring from the Olympic symbol.

The most talked about work was one depicting a young boy stitching the national flag, a pointed critique on child labor. The piece was later mysteriously removed and placed in auction with an asking price of 500,000ドル to 700,000ドル. Banksy was not the only one hitting the streets, and many graffiti artists were detained during the lead up to the games.

Simpson's Opening Sequence, 2011

Location: N/A (appeared on The Simpsons)

Producers of the The Simpsons took a chance allowing Banksy to rework their opening sequence for the third episode of their 2011 season. The longest-running cartoon series aired a controversial minute and a half segment of animation by Banksy. The piece poked fun at reports that The Simpsons outsourced animation work to a Korean factory.

The street artist's intro plays off the original opening scene, with Banksy's tag appearing on the city's monuments. The sequence also includes Bart Simpson's covering the walls of his classroom with the quote, "I must not write all over the walls." This leads to an unexpected turn, with the focus shifting to dozens of sweatshop workers making twisted creations of merchandise. The Simpsons producers claim that vision behind the work was Banksy's. While some were quick to criticize the opening sequence, many praised the producers for thinking out of the box in their 22nd season.

Drunk Mickey, 2011

Location: Los Angeles

With his documentary film Exit Through The Gift Shop up for an Oscar in February 2011, Banksy had his sights set on Los Angeles. The elusive artist's third work landed on a Sunset Boulevard billboard. The work depicted a sassy, intoxicated Mickey Mouse gripping a blonde in one hand and a martini in the other. Mickey's companion Minnie is also part of the piece, looking stoned out of her mind.

The piece, which was done on a CBS billboard over an advertisement for The Light Group, did not last very long. It was up just two days before CBS representatives removed the work. The Light Group was extremely displeased with the removal of the Academy Award nominee's work. The Light Group retained possession of the work a few days later and had plans to display it on a Las Vegas property. Banksy was not in attendance 10 days later for the Oscars, nor did he win.

Paris Hilton Reworked Album, 2006

Location: England

Paris Hilton had enough trouble moving units of her debut album, Paris, and a prank by Banksy wouldn't help the cause... or would it? During the first week of the album release, Hilton became the target of Banksy's latest prank-work. Banksy replaced the singer's CD with an alternate version featuring remixes produced by himself and Danger Mouse. The tracklist featured satire song titles such as, "Why am I Famous?" "What Have I Done?" and "What Am I For?"

Keeping with his visual forte, the Bristol artist also changed the CD booklet to display pictures of the singer topless. Another version showed her with a dog's head. What made this prank go over so smoothly was the fact that he left the barcode, allowing the fakes to be sold. Hundreds of CDs were altered in cities such as Bristol, Brighton, Birmingham, Glasgow and of course London.

Rats, ??-Present

Since first hitting the streets of Bristol and London Banksy has been spraying rats on the walls of cities. Small indiscrete rats carrying cameras, medium rats knocking over tubs of nuclear waste, to giant rats painting the sides of buildings. They are the perfect reflection of those of us who run through the city streets day in and day out living lives that at times seem worthless. In his book, Wall and Piece, Bansky explained his fascination the the creatures: "They exist without permission. They are hated, hunted, and persecuted. They live in quiet desperation amongst the filth. And yet they are capable of bringing entire civilizations to their knees. If you are dirty, insignificant and unloved then rats are the ultimate role model."

Crayola Shooter, 2011

Location: Los Angeles

Banksy's Crayola Shooter was one of the many works that went up in Los Angeles leading up to the Academy Awards. The work was placed on the side of an Urban Outfitters near the UCLA campus. The piece was created as commentary against child soldiers. The stenciled character is a young boy of Asian descent, firing off ammunition in the form of crayons from a gun roughly the same size as him. The stencil is black and white while the ammunition is colorful. Surrounding the subject are flowers and birds that are drawn in crayon. This leads us to believe that Banksy was insinuating the loss of childhood in a world filled with war.

Let Them Eat Crack, 2008

Location: New York

Banksy's enormous Street Rat: Let Them Eat Crack mural was unveiled in 2008 in New York's SoHo neighborhood. The vast mural, which took up a large portion of a side of the New York building, was created with a permit from the city of New York. The Bristol artist took on Marie Antoinette's quote "Let them eat cake," which was referencing French peasants. Banksy's spin instead was "Let them eat crack," voicing Wall Street's views towards the middle and lower classes.

The work features a giant rat who is suspected of writing the phrase seen sprawled on the wall. One hand appears to be bloody, matching the dark-red color that is dripping from the wall. The rat represents Wall Street with a necktie, an identification badge, an open umbrella, and a briefcase. The briefcase appears to be busting at the seams with money, and a few pieces of currency have fallen out. The piece glaringly captures corruption, greed, and amoral behavior that flows freely in Wall Street

Fragile Silence, 1998

Location: Norfolk, UK

What appears to be Banksy's oldest known work, Fragile Silence, is one of his most impressive. The story dates back 15 years ago, where a couple who owned a mobile trailer gave permission to Banksy to paint their home in exchange for two tickets to the Glastonbury Festival. The couple, Maeve Neal and Nathan Welland, claim to have known Banksy for over a decade. The parents of four made an attempt in 2008 to sell the mobile artwork after it was appraised at roughly half a million dollars but would later sell for close to a million.

When Banksy asked the couple to use their trailer, he said he needed a large white canvas. The final outcome was a huge 30-foot mural featuring a contrast of black and green colors. The work shows soldiers arriving on land by way of boats and features illustrations of audio equipment inside of the soldiers' boats.

If You Don't Succeed Call An Airstrike, 2010

Location: San Francisco

During a 2010 run on the city of San Francisco, Banksy unleashed If At First You Don't Succeed Call An Airstrike. Banksy had spent a 30-day period unveiling two handfuls of pieces in the streets of San Francisco. At the intersection of Broadway and Columbus, residents of the city were treated to an impressive piece. The work has two focal points: a subject wearing a gas mask and a quote. The piece certainly makes a statement that America is a trigger-happy country. There is also recurring blood-like splatter that begins at the bottom of the piece and reaches the lettering. This suggests death and mass-destruction.

Every Picture Tells A Lie, 2003

Location: Berlin

Banksy's Every Picture Tells A Lie was a mural curated by the contemporary arts space Kuenstlerhaus Bethanien back in 2003. The mural was unfortunately painted over numerous times, ruining the work for good—or so everyone thought. The project was later restored in 2011 by Brad Downey during a exhibition called "What Lies Beneath," a task that required hours of work to remove layers of paint. Downey's relationship with the Every Picture Tells A Lie mural dates back to his work at the exhibition that housed it back in 2003.

Unlike another early work, Gorilla In A Pink Mask, this piece was able to be restored to its original look. The piece features five of Banksy's smiley face police troopers, which would become recurring characters in his later works. Above the arch-like formation are the words and title of the work, which read, "Every Picture Tells A Lie."

Consumer Jesus, 2004

Location: N/A (work on canvas)

The Consumer Jesus screen-print depicts Jesus as the subject of one of the many recurring themes of Banksy's work, consumerism. The work takes aim at the shopping frenzy during Christmas. Jesus is displayed like he is crucified, but instead of a cross, he is holds three bags on each hand. Inside of the bags appear to be gifts, a candy cane, and small Mickey Mouse doll.

Grin Reaper, 2004

Location: London

A recurring image in Banksy’s works, this piece features the silhouette of the grim reaper but the classic skull has been replaced by a glowing yellow smiley face that Walmart used to have as their mascot before switching to their current yellow cat anus. Simple and to the point this piece is not too hard to decipher. Maybe because of this it has become a mainstay of anti-consumerist culture. However, a quick google search will show hundreds of different items for sale with this plastered over them.

Kissing Coppers, 2004

Location: Brighton, UK

Banksy's Kissing Coppers piece dates back to 2004 when it appeared on the Prince Albert Pub in Brighton, England. The piece depicts two male policemen engaging in a passionate kiss. The work suggests that Banksy was touching upon gay rights or presenting an attack on homophobia. After standing for seven years on the pub's wall, the piece was removed and sent to America for an auction in 2011. The pub's owner felt the timing was right and stated publicly that the earnings from the piece would be invested back into the establishment.

The Village Pet Store and Charcoal Grill, 2008

Location: New York

In 2008 mysterious Banksy billboards began popping up around Manhattan. At the time, it was not known what exactly the famed artist was up to, but something was lurking around the corner. Banksy began a residency in Greenwich Village, where he opened The Village Pet Store and Charcoal Grill, located at 89 7th Ave and sandwiched between the very popular Jekyll and Hyde and Sushi Samba. Banksy's first true New York show displayed many interesting animatronic works, within a pet store setup. Those works included chicken nuggets feeding out of a sauce container, hot dogs acting as hamsters, fish sticks swimming in a tank, a rabbit applying makeup, and a chimp enjoying pornographic monkey material.

The bizarre and genius exhibit ran from Oct. 5 to 31. Five years later Banksy one-upped himself with the 2013 "Better Out Than In" exhibit, which spanned the entire month of October.

Crazy Horses, 2013

Location: New York

During the early stages of Banksy's New York residency, "Better Out Than In," many of the works were either ragged or completely destroyed. Banksy must have been conscious of this with his ninth installment, titled Crazy Horses. The work appeared in a lot on the Lower East Side of New York, protected by two locked chain link gates armed with barbed-wire.

Banksy painted on a small car and delivery truck, which were parked side by side. The vast piece pictured horses sporting night-vision goggles, wreaking havoc on their targets. Like many of the larger pieces, the work was accompanied by a recording. This time the recording featured an audio rip obtained from WikiLeaks. The recording's origins date back to a US airstrike on Baghdad back in 2007. During the airstrike, US soldiers killed two children and a Reuters journalist. One soldier is heard stating, "Well, it's their fault for bringing kids into battle."

Hitchhiker Anywhere, 2005

Location: London

Banksy's Hitchhiker Anywhere, despite some tagging, was one of Banksy's longest standing works at nearly six years. The work, which appeared in London's Archway, stood opposite a McDonalds on Junction Road from 2005 until it faced its fate in 2011.

The piece depicts Charles Manson's attempting to hitch a ride to "Anywhere." Hitchhiker was one of the many works altered by Team Robbo in North London, due to a turf war which began in 2010. The sign with the word "Anywhere," which was originally black and white, was soon replaced by "Going Nowhere" in red. Local authorities removed the alteration, leaving the subject holding a blank sign. The work had been fading due to weathering and remained up despite the authorities' blackout of Team Robbo's efforts. Clearly upset that the alteration was removed but the piece left standing, Team Robbo took matters into their own hands and ragged the entire work with white paint.

Destroy Capitalism, 2006

Location: L.A. / Online

The piece features what looks like punks with their mohawks, utility belts, and combat boots lined up in front of a popsicle stand that is selling one 30ドル product: A red shirt that says "Destroy Capitalism." The poster first appeared at Banksy’s "Barely Legal" show and only 100 prints were made. A blatant comment on capitalism's ability to subvert and coopt all those that seek to bring it to ruin, the prints sold like hotcakes and their value went up following Smith’s rules of supply and demand.

However, the ultimate irony came 7 years later, when in 2013 Walmart began selling illegitimate copies of the print on their website. In an almost prophetic twist anyone wishing to show how much they hated capitalism could purchase their own copy for the low low price of 60 to 100 dollars. Once Banksy was notified of this he was quick to bring legal action against the mega-conglomerate and the prints were taken down.

Gorilla In A Pink Mask, 2001

Location: Bristol

Banksy's early works were not as thought provoking as his work is today. The evolution and growth of the Bristol artist is clearly evident when looking back. One of his early works, Gorilla In A Pink Mask, actually stood for quite sometime and is believed to be his piece with the longest life.

The simple, yet loud work was placed on a social club in his native Bristol. In 2011, the club was converted into a Muslim Cultural Center. Unfortunately during the transformation, the new property owner painted over the work. He later apologized and admitted to knowing nothing about the anonymous artist. The honest mistake would close the book on a piece that stood for 10 years.

Cardinal Sin, 2011

Location: Liverpool, U.K.

The enigmatic Bristol artist took on the Catholic Church in December of 2011. With Christmas just around the corner, Banksy unveiled a new sculpture titled, Cardinal Sin. The piece went on display at Liverpool's Walker Art Gallery and instantly became the talk of the town. The work shows what appears to be a replica of an 18th century stone bust priest with a pixelated face.

The removal of the priest's face disguises the identity of the subject. It is the same technique used to protect the identity of victims of the sex-abuse cases that were popping up within the Catholic Church. The vandalized priest piece is a commentary on the sexual abuse scandal. BBC quoted the artist commenting on the piece, "At this time of year it's easy to forget the true meaning of Christianity—the lies, the corruption, the abuse."

Di Face Tenner, 2004

Location: London

Mostly known for his stencil and installation work, Banksy turned his attention to his native London's bills. In 2004, the artist printed one million pounds worth of his Di Faced Tenner. The play on the term "defaced" (di-faced) comes from the fact that Banksy substituted the Queen's face with that of Princess Diana. The altered bill, which also features the words "Banksy of America," were dropped into a crowd at the 2004 Notting Hill Carnival and later that year, The Reading Festival. This lead to the work's being misused as actual payment in London.

Since its debut, many imitations of the fake bills have popped up on the Internet, labeled as authentic Banksys. Most of Banksy's works can be authenticated by his authorized company, Pest Control, with these being the exception. When receiving a COA from Pest Control, collectors receive a small portion of a ripped Di Faced Tenner. Since the bills are illegal fake currency, Pest Control keeps its distance from any authenticating.

One Nation Under CCTV, 2008

Location: London

Banksy's One Nation Under CCTV was one of many digs aimed at Big Brother. This piece, however, is memorable for the way Banksy pulled off the stunt. The Royal Mail granted permission for the creation of an enormous piece on the wall within the Post Office yard on Newman Street, without knowing what the work would look like. Scaffolding was constructed, reaching multiple stories and standing for a large portion of the week.

Much to the surprise of the Royal Mail and surrounding residents, the scaffolding would be removed to unveil the message "One Nation Under CCTV." The piece shows a young boy on the sixth rung of a tall ladder, rolling out the block lettering. To the left of the subject is a police officer and watchdog. The piece was seen as a bold statement against CCTV, perfectly placed directly to the left of a number of closed-circuit cameras. The work was later painted over.

Os Gemeos Collaboration, 2013

Location: New York

Street art unifies people of all different backgrounds. Last month, Banksy's "Better Out Than In" artist's residency proved this time and time again. For one installation in the middle of the month Banksy collaborated with the Os Gêmeos twin brothers from Brazil. The installment showed two works of which also appeared on the cover of the Village Voice that same month. Both works hung from the Highline-trestle located in Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan.

The works were heavily guarded by four individuals and stood behind glass. Fans of the artists were permitted to view the large paintings, take pictures, and then were ushered out to allow the next wave of viewers in. Banksy's stencil style is evident within the collaboration, which features the signature yellow characters of the Os Gêmeos twins. Within the piece, one of the characters is wearing a shirt that depicts Banksy's 2007 work, There Is Always Hope.

No Trespassing, 2010

Location: San Francisco

Banksy's No Trespassing work depicts a Native American sitting at the base of a "No Trespassing" sign. The work, which appeared in the Mission District of San Francisco, is focused around the traditional street sign that was posted long before the stencil illustration. The Native American's clothes, headdress, and arrows are painted in black and white while his skin slightly tinted in sepia tone.

Many of Banksy's works feature double entendres, and this work is no different. The subject is gripping a "No Trespassing" sign, reminding us who are the true founders of the United States. The piece's creation was also in response to the 2010 Sit/Lie injunction of San Francisco residents in 2010. The piece faced rag-tags, yet it stood for sometime before being whitewashed.

You Have Beautiful Eyes, 2005

Location: New York

Banksy hit up New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art in March of 2005 to place his own work illegally on the historical museum walls. The work of choice was You Have Beautiful Eyes, a simple portrait depicting a woman sporting a gas mask. Banksy would partake in similar antics that same day, placing other works in New York's MOMA and the American Museum of Natural History. Banksy told Reuters at the time, "My sister inspired me to do it. She was throwing away loads of my pictures one day and I asked her why. She said 'It's not like they're going to be hanging in the Louvre.'"

The museum officials did not take kindly to the artist's hanging his own works with some simple adhesive. Elyse Topalian, the spokeswoman for the Met at the time, explained to the New York Times, "I think it's fair to say that it would take more than a piece of Scotch tape to get a work of art into the Met."

I Remember When All This Was Trees, 2010

Location: Detroit, Mich.

Banksy's take on Detroit created somewhat of a firestorm. The work originally stood on a brick wall outside of the Packard Plant in Detroit until members of the 555 Gallery took it upon themselves to dismantle the newly discovered piece. The work of the anonymous artist was then transported to the gallery in southwest Detroit. Since the piece was put up on the downtrodden remains, however, no one could truly claim ownership of the work.

The piece is a take on Detroit's financial deprivation, quite evident by the placement of the work. The Packard Plant has fallen into abandon since the automotive market left Detroit. The words "I remember when all this was trees" stands beside a dejected child, referring to the scene of many squatters and homeless individuals within the Packard Plant.

Sorry! The lifestyle you ordered is currently out of stock, 2011

Location: London

Banksy has always been one to point out the obvious, especially when it comes to economic concerns with his native county. In 2011, Banksy was busier than ever. Capping off the year was a batch of pieces in London, one of which read, "Sorry! The lifestyle you ordered is currently out of stock." The piece appeared in Canary Wharf, one of London's two financial districts, on the side of a vacant building within a rectangular space for advertisements. Banksy's placement of this piece allows for the backdrop of London's financial skyscrapers in the distance. The message was an appropriate satire on London's economic recession.

Naked Man, 2006

Location: Bristol

One of Banksy's best placements was a work on the side of a British sexual health clinic. Naked Man made headlines, and when 500 people were surveyed about the work, more then 95% of them were in favor of keeping it up. City Council would oblige the request and rule in favor to allow the piece to remain on Park Street. The ruling came as a surprise because the piece displays an unclothed gentleman hanging from a windowsill. The subject appears to have been partaking in an affair with another man's wife. The husband is pictured looking out the window above the naked man, angrily searching for his wife's lover.

Peel Fiction/Tribute To Ozone, 2007

Location: London

Banksy's 2007 Peel Fiction piece, which was an adaptation of a scene from Quentin Tarantino's 1994-cult-classic, Pulp Fiction, showed Samuel L. Jackson and John Travolta pointing bananas instead of guns. The piece was removed by order of Transport for London, who cited that the piece encouraged crime. Banksy returned to the scene this time, placing the actors in banana suits to mock Transport's claim. That second installment was ragged by a young artist named Ozone, who critiqued the piece with a dig at Banksy. Beside Ozone's work, the 19-year-old left a comment, "If it's better next time I'll leave it." Ozone and fellow artist, Wants, were hit and killed by an underground train. Banksy would return for a third installment at the site, this with a great amount of compassion. Banksy painted a gloomy piece in a grey tone that showed an angel protected by a bulletproof vest gripping a skull—a heartfelt tribute to the fallen young artist.

The Cans Festival, 2008

Location: London

In May 2008, Banksy launched the "Cans Festival," inspired by the world famous, Cannes Film Festival. The exhibition took place over the course of three days within the confines of an old tunnel formerly used by Eurostar. The vacant tunnel was transformed into a canvas of works as well as a venue for various installations by the Bristol artist. Aside from his stenciled work, Banksy also brought in a number of installations such as smashed up cars, an ice cream truck, and an interesting take on CCTV. But by no means was this strictly a work by Banksy. Artists traveled from Brazil, Canada, and even as far as Australia to participate. Some of those artists included the likes of Sten Lex, Bsas Stencil, Prism, Roadsworth, Dolk, Ben Eine, Blek, C215, Mr. Brainwash, Logan Hicks, Btoy, Vhils, and Vexta, among others. This time Banksy also welcomed the public to add its own art to the tunnel.

KKK, 2008

Location: Birmingham, Ala.

Following a series of pieces in New Orleans, Banksy moved on to Birmingham, Alabama in 2008. The stencil extraordinaire went to work on a wall of an abandoned gas station. The piece depicted a Ku Klux Klansman hanging from a noose. The Ku Klux Klan and the city of Birmingham have a long, disturbing history that dates back to as early as 1915.

It is clear that Banksy's target of the piece was the KKK, but Birmingham residents were not too fond of the work. The imagery seemed to bring dark memories to the city, and they made it a point to cover the entire work in black spray-paint. This time the work was not ragged for hatred towards Banksy but the imagery he presented. The piece was later removed from the walls of the abandoned Chevron Station's service center.

Sirens Of The Lambs, 2013

Location: New York

One of the stranger pieces of Banksy's "Better Out Than In" residency in New York is the Sirens Of The Lambs truck. The second mobile installation of the residency featured squealing stuffed animals, which lined the walls of a slaughterhouse truck. The truck was spotted reeking havoc on the ears of residents in Downtown Brooklyn, the Meatpacking District, Williamsburg and other neighboring parts of the city.

Inside the back of the truck the animals were operated by at least two to three Banksy associates. The animals' heads turned, each voicing its own squeal. At the peak of the sound level, someone inside the truck would bang profusely as if to quiet the animals. The slaughterhouse truck, alongside its fellow mobile installations, was stored out in a secret warehouse in Red Hook, Brooklyn.

Coke Snorting Copper, 2006

Location: London

Starting a pool draining into sewer grate a thin white line of paint twisted and turned backwards through the alleys and streets of London. Up stairs and through parks until finally reaching a wall where a stenciled Cop is on his hands and knees with a rolled up dollar poised between his nose and the white line. Defiantly, the Cop stares back, not with look of being caught but with a "what are you going to do about it" attitude.

For a while this piece was lost after local council members (and undoubtedly the police) ordered it painted over and covered up, but in 2017 it was rediscovered by two business partners when they bought the building it was attached to. Showing the value of a Banksy work it is said to be valued for insurance purposes at 1.5 million dollars. However, the new owners say they will not try and sell it but instead keep with the original intent and allow the public to view it for free.

Yellow Lines Flower Painter, 2007

Location: London

Located in Bethnal Green in London, the Yellow Lines Flower Painter is one of Banksy's most famous pieces. In this work, the graffiti artist shows a painter, presumably tasked to paint the yellow lines so common to the streets of London, taking a break after painting a large yellow flower on a wall.

The painter is drawn in full detail, from the shadows in his white cap to the folds in his overalls. Of course, the real genius is in the simplicity of the yellow painted flower itself. It makes the entire work of art so believable. Those who see it will see a flower painted by a street painter, and not a genius artist like Banksy.

The piece carries a very whimsical message. It encourages those who see it to break out of the lines and to do something different. There is a place for order, yes, but it should not be used to stifle creative impulse.

Follow Your Dreams, 2010

Location: Boston

Banksy's Follow Your Dreams piece appeared in the Chinatown district of Boston in May of 2010. The image displays a fatigued painter beside the painted words "Follow Your Dreams" in capital letters. The phrase becomes secondary to the word "Cancelled," which is sprawled across the empowering message. Banksy gives the male painter a typical black and white color, while the initial words appear in a green tint. The word "Cancelled" is done in white capital letters housed by a red rectangle, resembling a stamp. The placement of this work on Essex Street, in the low-income district of Boston, gives the piece a deeper meaning, a commentary on class stratification.

Napalm, 2004

Location: N/A (work on canvas)

Banksy's Napalm piece depicts a nine-year-old girl named Kim Phuc. Phuc was the subject of a photo in 1972, which showed the naked young girl running from her home after a Napalm blast. Banksy removed Phuc from Nick Ut's original photo and placed her hand-in-hand with two of the United States' most famous pop-culture characters. The piece presents a biting critique of the United States. Other critics saw the piece as a take on the treatment of Vietnamese civilians during war.

Mona Lisa Rocketlauncher, 2007-2008

Location: London

Banksy's Mona Lisa Rocketlauncher first appeared in the Soho district of West London. A video briefly surfaced online where Banksy appears to be at work on this piece. The video shows the process of whitewashing, and the person on camera places an image of Mona Lisa holding a bazooka gun on the wall. The setting of the video appears to be Noel Street.

The work remains true to Mona Lisa's lackluster expression, but she has a rocketlauncher placed on her shoulder and wears a headset. Her hands are no longer folded in the traditional manner, instead bracing the weight of the weapon she holds. A bit of a comical and less-thought provoking piece, Mona Lisa is seen calm and collected even in the face of war.

No Loitering, 2008

Location: New Orleans

Banksy zeroed in on New Orleans in 2008 with two handfuls of works to commemorate the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. One that stood out was a piece titled No Loitering, which depicts an elderly man sitting beside a derelict building. Pictured seated in a rocking chair with an American flag, the words "No Loitering," appear above the gentleman's head. The wall on which Banksy placed this specific work had been vacant since the powerful storm destroyed the 9th Ward.

Banksy would use this piece and the others placed in New Orleans that week to respond to Fred Radtke. Radtke is known as the Gray Ghost, an anti-graffiti activist who covers works with gray paint. The purpose behind these selective pieces was focused on the clean-up of New Orleans and neighboring communities.

Guantanamo Bay, 2006

Location: Disneyland, Los Angeles

It's not everyday that Disney Land gets shut down. Banksy was able to add this feat to his resume following a stunt in which he placed a life-sized replica of a Guantanamo Bay detainee inside of the confines of the park. The statement piece was set up by Banksy himself inside the fence of the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad ride at the California theme park. With Thierry Guetta (Mr. Brainwash) documenting the stunt, Banksy's work lasted just an hour and a half before various parts of the park were shut down. Banksy was able to escape authorities by changing his clothes in a bathroom. Mr. Brainwash who was seen filming and taking photos, was taken into custody by park officials for numerous hours. Guetta's ability to get rid of and hide evidence, while remaining quiet in questioning, instilled a strong level of trust from Banksy.

Banksy's piece was carefully placed among the setting of cactuses and old-western scenery. The inflatable figure dressed like Guantanamo prisoners with an orange jumpsuit and hood covering its face. The entire piece went viral a short time later, even finding it's way to Banksy's Exit Through The Gift Shop.

Laugh Now, 2002

Location: Los Angeles

The Laugh Now sandwich board-wearing monkey first appeared back in 2002. The piece depicts a monkey in a human-like upright position, stenciled in black with his eyes shielded from sight. The sandwich board that hangs on the shoulders of the character reads, "Laugh now, but one day we'll be in charge." This same stencil was later used with various other sayings including, "Keep It Real," and "Lying To The Police Is Never Wrong." Aside from rats, monkeys are one of Banksy's favorite subjects.

A version of this piece sold at Banksy's often forgotten exhibit, "Existencilism," in 2002 at the 33 1/3 Gallery, Los Angeles. In 2008, the piece was part of a set of three canvases auctioned by Sotheby's Contemporary Art Day Auction in London. That same year, a variation of the piece sold at the Bonhams Urban Art Sale for close to 500,000ドル. The cost of the three canvases totaled 241,737ドル.

There Is Always Hope, 2007

Location: South Bank, London

Banksy's Girl With Balloon is one of the more talked about pieces in his career. The original work depicts a young girl losing a heart-shaped balloon to the wind. There is also a small quote etched into the staircase that reads, "There is always hope." The girl is seen standing in front of a gust of wind in black and white. Her balloon is painted in bright red.

The heart-shape represents love, hope, innocence, childhood, and even self-confidence. It is not clear if the piece is supposed to represent a loss of hope or that what you desire is within your reach. The quote seems to suggest the latter.

Central Park Stall Sale, 2013

Location: Central Park, New York

Banksy tested us all this past October with a once in a lifetime chance to own an original Banksy piece. Setting up a stall outside of New York's Central Park, Banksy commissioned an elderly gentleman to sell original works by the Bristol artist. This stunt was part of Banksy's month long residency in the city, "Better Out Than In." At the Central Park stall, the asking price was a mere 60ドル for works that would command as much as six figures at auction. Many New York residents and tourists passed up on the opportunity, assuming that the canvases were knock-offs.

The end of the day showed earnings of 420ドル dollars. The first sale took place after four hours, and later a woman negotiated two smaller pieces for the price of 60ドル dollars. No one made out better than a gentleman from Chicago who picked out four pieces. He explained to the salesman, "I'm just looking for something for my walls."

Regent's Canal Mural, 2009

Location: Regent's Canal, London

Banksy's work in the Regent's Canal ignited a war between the Bristol artist and King Robbo. Back in 1985, King Robbo installed his work titled Robbo Incorporated on a wall within Regent's Canal in Camden, London. The work stood until 2009, where Banksy allegedly covered a majority of the work with a piece of his own. The piece featured a workman pasting white wallpaper. Robbo, who was outraged, returned on Christmas Day, 2009 to create the word Robbo in silver letters. This would lead to a back and forth battle between Robbo and Banksy at the site, which is only accessible by boat. One of Robbo's works featured a gravestone that read, "R.I.P. Banksy's career."

This back and forth turf war went viral online with campaigns of "Team Robbo" targeting future Banksy works. Outside of London, Banksy's works have been defaced or altered in some capacity by fans and fellow graffiti writers pledging loyalty to King Robbo.

The Walled Off Hotel, 2017

Location: West Bank, Palestine

As can be seen in this list, Banksy’s works have often taken aim at the conflict between Israel and Palestine, especially the literal wall that divides the two people. In perhaps the biggest publicity stunt for both himself and his anti-apartheid message is his Walled Off Hotel. Boasting "the worst view in the world" Bansky opened a hotel literally feet away from the Bethlehem wall in March of 2007. Although a fully functioning hotel and restaurant the space’s true purpose is as a gallery and protest space. On the way in guest are greeted by a was chimp in a bellhop costume and the walls and rooms are lined with classic ironic Banksy works.

The plan is to keep the space operating for the full year marking the centennial of the British turning over the area to the Palestinian people. For anyone out there thinking this is a way for Banksy to turn a profit off the conflict his website states the hotel and restaurant are locally owned and any profits will go into local projects. Although, he will be opening a gift shop come the fall...*cue exit through the gift shop jokes*.

Exit Through The Gift Shop, 2010

Location: England/Los Angeles

Exit Through the Gift Shop: A Banksy Film is a film surrounding the rise of Thierry Guetta, otherwise known as Mr. Brainwash. The film shows how Banksy comes to befriend Guetta by way of another artist, Guetta's cousin Invader. Thierry, a French immigrant, resides in Los Angeles and is given a once in a lifetime chance to create a documentary about street art. The "filmmaker," trails Banksy while he puts up pieces, taking 1,000 hours worth of film with the intention of making it into a documentary. Following the success of Banksy's "Barely Legal" exhibit, Thierry presents the final production titled, Life Remote Control.

The film turns out to be somewhat of a distorted mess, leading Banksy to rework the angle and eventually create Exit Through The Gift Shop. The plot shifts to Thierry's newfound fame as Mr. Brainwash and his scaled up exhibit, titled "Life Is Beautiful." The film was nominated for an Academy Award.

West Bank Wall, 2005

Location: Palestine

Banksy's elusiveness was perfected during a trip to Palestine back in 2005. The artist chose the West Bank Wall, a 425-mile barrier that separates Palestine and Israel, as his next canvas. The subversive act was daring to say the least, considering guards of the wall are armed and do not take kindly to defacement. Banksy took his chances, reportedly placing nine illustrations on the wall, a barrier that Banksy would admit is "Illegal... It also makes it the ultimate activity holiday destination for graffiti writers."

Banksy's nine pieces were focused around the setting of the wall. One of those works features an enormous fancy living room, equipped with a large window and armchairs. Another depicts two children playing with a shovel and bucket, set beneath an open hole that overlooks paradise. Another, which may be the most daring, shows a little boy at the base of a ladder that reaches all the way to the top of the wall. Banksy reportedly painted while guards trained their guns on him from a distance, and he even had an encounter with a local resident who said, "We don't want it to be beautiful. We hate this wall. Go home."

Elephant In A Room, 2006

Location: Los Angeles

Banksy's "Barely Legal" exhibition opened with a bang in September of 2006. The event was marketed as a "three-day vandalised warehouse extravaganza" to be held in Los Angeles. Nothing could have prepared fans of the Bristol artist for the "live" show. Banksy unveiled Tai, a 37 year-old elephant, who was painted in pink and gold to match the wallpaper in the exhibit. Tai's fresh coat came courtesy of a very large amount of non-toxic children's face paint. According to the exhibit's leaflets, a simple message read, "There's an elephant in the room. There's a problem we never talk about." The problem Banksy attempted to get across was world hunger.

The "elephant in a room" piece lasted just two days in its pink and gold colorway. The Department of Animal Services issued a permit for the elephant to appear at the exhibit. After animal activists had a field day surrounding the appearance, Tai was washed by order of the Department for the final day of the exhibit.

Sweep It Under The Carpet, 2006 and 2007

Location: London

This piece first appeared in Chalk Farm, London. The Independent of London made a claim that they had commissioned the work, something Banksy would later refute. Many were quick to claim that this piece was a statement against the government's reluctance to tackle issues such as Aids in Africa. Banksy describes the piece on his website, "In the bad old days, it was only popes and princes who had the money to pay for their portraits to be painted. This is a portrait of a maid called Leanne who cleaned my room in a Los Angeles motel. She was quite a feisty lady."

The work later appeared in 2007 on a wall adjacent to the White Cube Gallery in London. The rendition was mysteriously painted over after standing for a month. That same year the piece was also repurposed in a collaboration with Damien Hirst. The Banksy-altered "Pharmaceutical" painting would go on to sell for 1,870,000ドル. At the time of auction, this was the highest price Banksy had ever received for a piece.

Flower Thrower, 2003

Location: Jerusalem

This iconic stencil illustration continues to stand out among all of the Bristol artist's work. The subject, who appears to be involved in a riot, wears a handkerchief and backwards cap and is depicted armed with a bouquet of flowers instead of a Molotov cocktail. The complete work is done in black and white, except the flowers, which are in color. The work has been reproduced in the form of prints, phone cases, T-shirts, and even tattoos.

Banksy leads us to believe the subject has armed himself for a riot or a war. The substitute of the flowers for a weapon portrays peace and hope in place of destruction. The work appears on the front and back cover of Banksy Wall and Piece, the widely popular 2005 compilation book featuring the artist's work.

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