Banksy is one of the world's most famous artists. Millions of people have seen his work, but nobody knows his real name.
Most famous artists are recognised wherever they go. Banksy is different. Millions of people know his artwork, but nobody knows for certain who he is. His real identity remains a mystery, and that anonymity has become one of the reasons people find him so interesting.
Banksy's artwork appears on walls, bridges and buildings, often during the night. By the next morning, crowds may already be taking photographs. His paintings are shared on social media around the world within hours, and many quickly become international news stories.
Banksy usually uses stencils, which allow him to create detailed pictures very quickly. His works often include simple black-and-white images with one bright colour, making them easy to recognise.
His art is famous for discussing important topics such as war, poverty, climate change, consumerism and inequality. Instead of telling people exactly what to think, Banksy encourages viewers to decide the meaning for themselves.
One of his best-known works is Girl with Balloon, first painted in London in 2002. It shows a young girl reaching for a red heart-shaped balloon. Some people believe it represents hope, while others think it is about losing something important.
Banksy has created artwork in many countries. He painted murals on the Israeli West Bank barrier, commenting on conflict and peace. He also produced artworks in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, showing the effects of the disaster. In Bristol, where he is believed to have started his career, many of his murals are now protected.
The most famous event in Banksy's career happened in 2018.
At an auction organised by Sotheby's, a framed version of Girl with Balloon sold for about £1.04 million. Just after the sale ended, a hidden shredder inside the frame switched on and began cutting the artwork into strips.
The audience was shocked.
Instead of becoming worthless, the artwork became even more valuable. It was renamed Love is in the Bin and later sold again for around £18.6 million.
This strange event became a famous paradox. The artwork became more valuable after being partly destroyed.
Banksy has also created other unusual projects. In 2015, he opened Dismaland, a temporary attraction that looked like a dark version of a theme park. Visitors found broken castles, unhappy workers and artworks that made fun of modern society.
Many of Banksy's works are satirical. They use humour and irony to criticise politics, business and everyday life. His pictures often make people laugh before making them think more deeply about important issues.
Street art is also naturally ephemeral. It can disappear because of weather, building work or people painting over it. Banksy knows this, and many people believe that this temporary quality makes his art even more special.
Today, Banksy's work sells for millions of pounds, even though it often began as illegal graffiti. His success has changed the way many people think about street art.
Whether people see him as an artist, an activist or both, Banksy has shown that powerful ideas do not need to be displayed inside expensive galleries.
Sometimes, they only need an empty wall.
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