Banksy's identity revealed?

The work of Banksy It never fails to provoke a reaction. The artist (or artists) behind that name creates stencil paintings brimming with social and political commentary, all from a position of anonymity. Their interventions appear on walls, streets, squares, and public spaces worldwide, and each work sparks social debate. Their career has taken them to Paris, New York, Bethlehem, London, and Bristol, the British city where they have left some of their most recognizable murals in the early hours of the morning. The themes are diverse: from critiques of war and social inequality to ironic graffiti about consumer society and politics.

But beyond the social commentary, what truly captivates is the mystery surrounding his anonymity. Over the years, various media outlets have attempted to uncover his identity. Two British tabloids, Evening Standard and The Mail on SundayThey pointed to a man as a possible Banksy, but the artist vehemently denied it. The investigations have only served to reinforce the artist's enigmatic image.

The latest attempt to uncover Banksy's identity has been by Reuters. The investigation The article focuses on the murals that recently appeared in Ukraine. According to the British agency, the artist's identity has been reconstructed based on his activity in this country, which is embroiled in the conflict that began in February 2022 following the Russian invasion.

The article explains how several journalists followed leads from London to New York and some towns near the conflict zones in Ukraine, analyzing patterns in schedules, logistics, and equipment used to create the murals. The examination and analysis of photographs, documents, and local testimonies has allowed them to identify a possible name behind Banksy: Robin Gunningham, also known as David Jones, according to their most recent hypothesis. Robert Del Naja, a member of the music group Massive Attack, would have been a collaborator and friend of the artist, and would have helped him on some occasions with the murals.

In fact, back in 2017, a slip-up by DJ and musician Goldie circulated the theory on social media that Robert Del Naja was hiding behind the name Banksy. Specifically, in an interview on the podcast Distraction piecesGoldie let slip Del Naja's name: "Give me some bubble lettersWe write something on the t-shirt, put Banksy on it, and that's it… We can sell it right away. Even if someone else did it. With all due respect to Roberto, I think he's a brilliant artist. The Reuters investigation stems from a mural that appeared in Horenka, a Ukrainian town that had suffered bombings, and which aroused the suspicions of a journalist from the agency. Painted on the wall of a bombed building.

Thus, the Reuters investigation merely reinforces a hypothesis that has been circulating for some years, but provides more details. However, the new information neither resolves nor closes the enigma, both artistic and global. Since the first appearances of Banksy's works in the 1990s, his identity has remained a secret.