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Banksy Reveals His Name In A Rare BBC Interview (17 Photos)

October 27, 2025
By Vidar

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An Insight Into the World of Street Art: Banksy’s artworks continue to attract attention worldwide, particularly following recent revelations about his identity. In this extraordinary BBC interview, Banksy shares rare insights about his art and personal life. Could this finally reveal the mystery of his identity?

Watch the full interview: BANKSY – The lost interview

🔗 Follow Banksy on Instagram

A statue of Winston Churchill modified with humorous and rebellious touches. The statue, crafted from dark material, features a bright green patch of grass styled as a mohawk on the head, adding a punk aesthetic. Additionally, red paint drips down from the mouth, resembling blood. The background showcases leafless tree branches, emphasizing the outdoor setting. The alterations create a provocative and satirical commentary, blending historical reverence with modern rebellious art.

A Glimpse into Banksy’s Artistic World

The interview delves into Banksy’s “Turf War” exhibition, a hallmark of his anti-establishment themes. This 2003 London show was a spectacle of defiance, showcasing graffitied police vehicles and live animals adorned with distinctive police patterns, not to mention the famous Winston Churchill portrait with a twist.

Banksy’s artwork Trolley Hunters, a satirical piece depicting three hunters crouching in a savanna-like landscape, aiming their primitive weapons at two shopping carts. The minimalist background of a clear blue sky and sandy terrain emphasizes the absurdity of the scene, critiquing modern consumer culture and its misplaced priorities.

The Name Revelation

In a candid moment, the interviewer, Nigel Wrench, inquires about using Banksy’s real name. The response? “Robbie.” While this opens up possibilities (could he be Robert Del Naja of Massive Attack, or perhaps Robin Gunningham?), it’s a rare peek behind the curtain of the elusive artist.

A Banksy mural featuring the phrase "If graffiti changed anything - it would be illegal" painted in bold red letters on a white, cracked wall. Below the text, a black stencil of a rat appears, holding a paintbrush with red paint dripping from it, as though the rat created the graffiti. The image critiques the societal view of graffiti and its perceived impact on change.

Banksy on Graffiti and Art

Banksy’s views on graffiti are clear: it’s vandalism if it’s illegal, but that’s part of its charm. He sees the city as a playground for expression, where painting and repainting are part of an ongoing dialogue. His approach to art? Quick and impactful, much like the fleeting nature of street art itself.

A Banksy artwork titled "Game Changer" showing a young boy kneeling on the floor, wearing overalls and a t-shirt, joyfully holding a toy nurse superhero in the air. The nurse wears a face mask, a cape, and a Red Cross emblem on her uniform, symbolizing healthcare workers as heroes. In a trash bin beside him, traditional superhero toys like Batman and Spider-Man lie discarded, highlighting a shift in societal values. The artwork is rendered in black and white, with the Red Cross emblem standing out in red.

Banksy’s Take on the Art Establishment

Banksy remains detached from the traditional art world, expressing disinterest in the ‘Brit Art’ movement and a pointed avoidance of selling to figures like Charles Saatchi. His focus is on art that resonates with the public, rather than seeking approval from the elite.

Two Sotheby’s staff members, wearing white gloves and blue masks, carefully hold Banksy's partially shredded artwork, formerly known as "Girl with Balloon," now titled "Love is in the Bin." The piece is encased in an ornate golden frame, with the bottom portion of the canvas shredded and hanging beneath. The upper part of the artwork features a red heart-shaped balloon floating against a blank background, emphasizing the contrast between creation and destruction. The scene is set in a gallery, highlighting the surreal and iconic nature of Banksy’s work.

Banksy’s Art in the Market

Despite his disconnection from the art market, Banksy’s canvases are highly sought after, fetching high prices. His reaction? A mix of surprise and indifference, hinting at a disconnection between the artist’s intentions and the commercial value of his work.

More Banksy: 14 Great Banksy Street Art Photos and Quotes!

Some classics by Banksy:

Kissing Coppers, Brighton, UK

A stencil artwork of two British policemen passionately kissing.

We’re All In The Same Boat, Lowestoft, UK

Children depicted on a wall appearing to sail a makeshift boat.

Zebra Stripes, Timbuktu, Mali

A striking piece showing a woman washing the stripes off a zebra.

Follow Your Dreams – Cancelled, Boston, USA

A worker painting over the words “Follow Your Dreams” with a red “Cancelled” stamp.

Flower Thrower, Bethlehem, Palestine

A masked man throwing a bouquet instead of a weapon.

The Claw, Norfolk, UK

An installation showing a giant arcade claw poised above a bench, humorously portraying vulnerability and chance in everyday life.

Devolved Parliament, London, UK

A satirical painting depicting the UK House of Commons populated by chimpanzees, offering sharp commentary on political chaos and human behavior.

Banksy's stencil artwork 'Gas Mask Boy' showing a child in a gas mask with a vibrant, floral landscape reflected in the visor, located in London, UK.

Gas Mask Boy, London, UK

Stencil artwork depicting a child wearing a gas mask, with the mask’s visor reflecting a colorful field of flowers.

Banksy's mural 'Armored Peace Dove' depicting a white dove in a bulletproof vest targeted by crosshairs, holding an olive branch, located in Bethlehem, Palestine.

Armored Peace Dove, Bethlehem, Palestine

Stencil artwork of a peace dove wearing a bulletproof vest with crosshairs aimed at its chest, carrying an olive branch.

Tourist and Rickshaw, Bristol, UK

From Banksy vs. Bristol Museum exhibition at Bristol Museum, Bristol, 2009.

More Banksy: 24 artworks by Banksy: Who Is The Visionary of Street Art

"A person in a gray hoodie sits on a bench at what appears to be a London Underground station, with the iconic red-and-blue roundel logo altered to read 'BANKSY.' Behind them, a black stencil of a rat, characteristic of Banksy's graffiti, is visible on the tiled wall.

What do you think about Banksy’s hints in this interview? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

This post was updated on July 22, 2025.

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7 Comments

  1. Why find out a name? Tell us the essence of arts then also… Stupid journalists who do not get the essence of Banksy’s work being also in anonymity, and having to spoil something beautiful for everybody, just earning from one uninteresting scoop. The world is more and more governed by stupid’s selling off grandma for money! Shame on these people.
    PS. I am teaching marketing and would do a lesson on brands and Banksy: the difference of a false and a true icon. These idiots spoilt this interesting lesson also!

    Reply

  2. Robbie,Robin banks, Banksy 🤣🤣🤣🤣 sounds like he’s takin the p*** out ov authority🤭

    Reply

  3. Banksy Robbie, Robby Banksy – could simply be a joke.
    And who cares? The name of the artist behind the person is Banksy, and that is good enough for the most influential painter and art phenomenon of our epoch.

    Reply

  5. Always thought he was Robert outta Massive Attack, it makes sense & all the clues are there.

    Reply
  6. Street Art Legend Banksy Reveals His Name In A Rare BBC Interview | Ned Hamson's Second Line View of the News
    July 18, 2025

    […] Street Art Legend Banksy Reveals His Name In A Rare BBC Interview […]

    Reply

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