Flying Balloon Girl

"Flying Balloon Girl" isa well-known graffiti artwork by Banksy created in 2005 on the West Bank separation wall, depicting a young girl floating above the wall with a bunch of balloons. The stencil mural is a symbol of hope, freedom, and defying barriers, particularly in the context of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and restricted movement.

There Is Always Hope (Girl with Balloon)

Arguably Banksy’s most iconic piece, it appeared in South Bank, London in around 2002. The words ‘There Is Always Hope’ are written just behind a young girl, who can be seen reaching for a balloon in the shape of a heart. Intense debate has raged on over the years regarding the true meaning of this stencil, with a variety of ideas involving love, innocence and – obviously – hope.

Sorry... The Lifestyle You Ordered

Discovered towards the end of 2011, Sorry! The lifestyle you ordered is currently out of stock appears on the side of an empty building believed to be a failed housing project stalled by the recession. It is still visible today although it has some streaks of black paint over it.

Monkey Parliament (Devolved Parliament)

A Banksy artwork showing MP's in the Houses of Common as chimpanzees is now on display at the Bristol Museum & Art Gallery

Rage, Flower Thrower

This appeared in Jerusalem in 2003 and is perhaps one of Banksy’s most well-known pieces. To many people it is a symbol of peace and hope in the face of adversity and destruction. The masked rioter is throwing not a “Molotov Cocktail” but a bunch of flowers and the image was featured heavily in Banksy’s 2005 book entitled “Wall and Piece”.

One Nation Under CCTV

This was one of Banksy’s largest pieces, appearing in London in 2008. How he managed to pull this off is still something of a mystery because he erected 3 storeys of scaffolding (behind a security fence) seemingly under the watchful gaze of a CCTV camera, which was positioned just to the right of this shot. The message of the graffiti is heavily ironic, given the context. It has since been removed

Man Hanging From Window

This is perhaps one of the most famous of all Banksy pieces and shows a man hanging from a window after his clandestine affair looks set to be discovered by his mistress’s husband. With typical Banksy irony, it was daubed on the side of a sexual health clinic in Frogmore Street, although according to the clinic’s director in the book “Home Sweet Home“, when Banksy was told this by email he responded to say that hadn’t realised it was a sexual health clinic and thought it was really funny. In the last few years the graffiti was unfortunately vandalised

Kissing Coppers

First appearing on a pub wall in Brighton, UK in 2004, Banksy’s “Kissing Coppers” was a a piece that was one in the eye for the for the police (who Banksy frequently taunts) as well as to homophobes. The siting of this graffiti was probably most deliberate given that Brighton is well-known for its large gay population. The work was removed in February 2014 following repeated vandal attempts and the pub owner was able to orchestrate a sale to a private buyer in Miami for a sum believed to be in the region of half a million dollars.

No Ball Games

“No Ball Games” first appeared in Turnpike Lane, North London, in 2009 but was later removed in July 2013 by a private organisation called “Sincura Group” in order to display it at the “Stealing Bansky” exhibition, a private collection of original Banksy works. Sincura Group have claimed that they have made no profit from the exhibition. The same group were also responsible for removing Banksy’s Slave Labour piece (see next item) which appeared close by in Wood Green in 2012. Banksy himself has made it clear he has no links with either the group or the exhibition

Slave Labour

This graffiti piece was produced by Banksy to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012 and shows a child labourer working to produce union jack bunting in celebration of the event. The work did not last long and was removed in early February 2013. As with “No Ball Games”, Sincura Group were involved in its removal and they claimed to have at least three big bids for the piece. The owner of the store on whose wall the graffiti was placed has never commented.

The Grim Reaper (Thekla)

The Thekla boat in Bristol was originally tagged by Banksy in 2003. The moored nightclub boat’s owners posted an image of the “tag” on their website and asked their customers whether it should stay. The response was to keep it, but Bristol City Council later ordered its removal. Years after its removal, Banksy returned and re-painted the Grim Reaper in the same spot where it remains to this day.

Follow Your Dreams

A rather sad-looking working class painter has painted the words ‘follow your dreams’ before having the word ‘cancelled’ stamped over in a rather striking rectangular box. This piece was originally stencilled in May 2010 on the back of the Shabu Shabu Restaurant in Chinatown, Boston.

The Thinker Monkey

The origins of this particular image are shroud in mystery, but it is thought that ‘The Thinker Monkey’ first appeared on canvas rather than on the streets. It seems that Banksy could be poking fun at humans for believing that they are the only intelligent beings, or perhaps it’s just a bit of a general laugh because you don’t see a monkey deep in thought every day!

The Mild Mild West

Many people believe that this piece stems from the Bristol riots back in the early 1980’s, but according to Jim Paine in the book “Home Sweet Home” that isn’t true at all. In the late 90’s in Bristol there were many free, unlicensed parties at various warehouses across the city. There was trouble at one such party at Winterstoke Road, where according to Jim “Many of the crowd that night were assaulted by police…it marked the beginning of a more hardline approach from the police, using violence as a method of breaking up parties“. The “Mild Mild West” was painted by Banksy on the side of a building in Stokes Croft, Bristol and was done over the course of 3 days in broad daylight. It remains there to this day

Police Sniper

This graffiti piece of a police sniper crouching on top of a building with a boy standing behind him about to give him a loud surprise courtesy of a paper bag was visible in Bristol for several years and could be seen opposite the Bristol Royal Infirmary (BRI) and Bristol Children’s Hospital buildings.

Don't Forget To Eat Your Lunch & Make Some Trouble

This iconic piece of Banksy artwork first appeared as part of an exhibit in Bristol titled ‘Banksy Versus Bristol Museum’. The original version of Don’t Forget Your Scarf Dear was displayed in an old fashioned style of frame on a sepia mount, the only pop of colour being the son’s bright red scarf. Critics state that while this is not one of Banksy’s more subversive artworks it expresses a simple ideal : that a child should be loved and accepted for what he or she is not because the fit with society’e expectations. It is unclear whether or not this is an outdoor reproduction by Banksy himself or one of many photo-shopped versions with quotes and slogans attached.

Drunk Angel

Drunk Angel was first spotted on London Bridge although it has since been painted over. It shows a fallen angel, tied and weary. The bottle suggests alcohol and the angel is also smoking. Banksy seems to be saying that despite his best efforts the angel has failed and ended up turning to substance abuse.

Hammer Boy

Hammer Boy was the piece created on Day 20 of Banksy’s ‘New York Residency’ in 2013. Once again Banksy makes use of existing features and adds his distinctive stencil style to bring them to life. Several attempts to deface the piece have been thwarted.

Umbrella Girl

All of the New Orleans Banksy artworks are fiercely guarded and Umbrella Girl is no different. As of early 2014 Umbrella girl has been covered with plyboard and has a guard round the clock following an attempt to cut the art work out of the wall.

If Graffiti Changed Anything

One of Banksy’s more ‘meaningful’ artworks, this was discovered in Fitzrovia (London) in April 2011. It features a rat with red paint on his paw and a paw print on the wall next to him. He stands under the phrase ‘If Graffiti Changed Anything It Would Be Illegal’. It appears to be a swipe at the government due to its reference to an Emma Goldman quote: ‘If voting ever changed anything, it would be illegal’. She campaigned for Women’s rights and voting, and Banksy could be highlighting the fact that each individual vote may rarely change anything.

Injured Buddha

Injured Buddha was a feature of the 2008 Cans Festival in London which took place in Leake Street – affectionately known as ‘Banksy Tunnel’. Other artists were invited to join Banksy in creating works of art during the festival. The work shows Buddha with a bandaged hand and facial wounds to symbolize the triumph of the mind over emotion

One Original Thought

One Original Thought is located in Brooklyn, New York on the corner of Jay Street and Water Street. It combines Banksy’s signature style with a quote from philosopher Dioenes of Sinope. A young boy appears to be sitting on an upturned waste basket while writing the quote in red crayon.

GCHQ Government Spies Telephone Box

Government Spies appeared on the side of a house in Cheltenham in April 2014. The mural depicts mysterious 1950’s style agents listening in on a telephone box in reference to former CIA agent Edward Snowdon exposed techniques used by several agencies. The house on which the mural was painted is close to GCHQ (Government Communications Headquarters) which is the UK equivalent of America’s NSA. The piece was sold by the home owner to a private collector who is preparing to remove the mural, but as of 2 July the local council have placed a stop order on the work for one month.

No Future

Many consider No Future to be one of Banksy’s most poignant pieces of art. It appeared on the wall of a private residence in Southampton, but was painted over in November 2010 just one week after discovery. The letter O in the caption doubles as a balloon giving the viewer a dose of irony since balloons are more often a cause of joy for children

Panda With guns

Although this is widely believed to be a work of Banksy when it appeared outside a pub in Bristol and is supposedly one of Banksy’s most famous pieces, the ‘Panda With Guns’ is probably not a work of Banksy at all. Some people attribute it to a French artist by the name of Julien Fanton D’Andon, who purportedly produced it for a record label called ‘Bad Panda’. Whether or not this is a Banksy, the ‘Pandas with Guns” just cannot be left out of this list!

Sweep It Under The Carpet

Possibly one of the most recognisable Banksy artworks, Sweep it Under the Carpet appeared on a wall on Chalk Farm Road, North London in around 2006. It shows a woman dressed as a maid who is sweeping dirt under the cover of a brick wall. The piece is said to represent the reluctance of the western world to deal with global issues such as the AIDS epidemic, amongst others.

Season's Greetings – Port Talbot

Christmas came early in Port Talbot. Banksy has struck with his latest piece named 'Season's Greetings'. Positioned on two sides of a garage, at first the image depicts a child playing in the snow.

Old Skool

Old Skool has always been a firm favorite amongst fans of Banksy’s work. The piece was situated in London’s Clerkenwell Road and showed old people engaging in the type of loitering usually expected from young people! There was some degree of mystery surrounding the piece in 2008 when it was painted over and replaced with a cut out stencil saying “collected” There is some debate as to whether or not the work was removed from the wall or painted over.

Girl With Skipping Rope

This makes up half of a two part piece of art, with the green ‘skipping rope’ snaking across the ground and connecting to the electric box in another Banksy painting. It was originally found in Brooklyn but was painted over after falling victim to ‘The Splasher’ and individual who goes around splashing paint on street art.

KKK

Banksy is know for tackling controversial issues and his KKK mural is no different. It shows a man in KKK garb hanging. The painting appeared on the wall of an abandoned gas station, but was quickly painted over.

Love Is The Answer

Love Is The Answer is often attributed to ‘Mr Brainwash’ aka Thierry Guetta who became famous through Banksy’s film Exit Through the Gift Shop. It is a representation of Einstein holding a placard bearing the words “love is the answer’.

Waiting In Vain

Banksy’s Waiting in Vain is another part of his New York residency ‘Better Our Than In’. It appeared on the roll down shutters of Larry Flint’s Hustler club and depicts a man with flowers who has apparently been stood up – perhaps by one of the dancers?. The shutter has been removed for display inside the club

Angel In Bulletproof Vest (Fallen Angel)

Fallen Angel is one of the most popular Banksy artworks. The piece is widely believed to be a touching tribute to fellow graffiti artist Ozone to commemorate his death in 2007. The piece was found in Bermondsey Street, London but has since been painted over and is no longer visible.

Nighthawks Forever

Nighthawks Forever is a parody on the 1942 Edward Hopper painting. In Banksy's version, we see a drunken British "yob" disturbing the peace by throwing plastic chairs as the window, symbolising perhaps the differences in modern day values with a previous era. It was created by Banksy in 2005.

Burning Tyre

On 6th June 2016 his image of a child bearing a stick and chasing a burning tyre was revealed on the wall of a primary school in Whitchurch, South Bristol.

Israeli & Palestinian Pillow Fight

Graffiti artist Banksy has opened a brand new hotel, which is located four meters from the controversial wall built by Israel in 2002. Sitting in the West Bank, The Walled Off Hotel is surrounded by the wall and features a number of brand new political pieces and boasts "The world worst view." The project has taken over two years to complete and it is hoped to teach people about Palestine

Draw The Raised Bridge

This latest Banksy art is located in Hull. The artwork shows a child holding a wooden sword with the words "Draw the raised bridge!"

Because I'm Worthless

Little is known about this stencil, besides the fact that it first appeared in London. The rats that are a recurring theme among the work of Banksy are said to be inspired by Blek Le Rat, a Parisian street artist who stencilled iconic images in the streets of Paris beginning in the 1980s – many of his pieces also featured similar rats.

Location: London

Swooping Seagull

Displayed in Katwijk Way, Lowestoft on the side of a house on Denmark Road. A strategically placed skip filled with insulation pieces to look like chips. An expert commented that gulls are a common appearance in Banksy's work which is actually very fitting considering this piece is in a seaside town where seagulls terrorise the tourists.

Location: Lowestoft

Security Guard With Pink Balloon Dog

This piece, depicting a security guard officer with a dog on a leash consisting of a pink balloon, was discovered at the rear of a police headquarters in the province of Ontario, Canada. Sadly, it was vandalised just a few days later – with a dodo supposedly being drawn on the officer’s face!

Location: Canada

Banksy Cheetah

This big cat, dubbed a ‘Tagular’ thanks to the pattern made up of various symbols and tags is titled Bronx Zoo and was Day 30 of Banksy’s Better Out Than In residency in New York during October 2013. It appeared opposite Yankee Stadium but was quickly painted over, although parts are still visible.

Location: New York

Gorilla Artist

Gorilla Artist or Shave Kong as it is sometimes known was created as part of the Cans Festival in 2008. The festival takes place in Leake Street tunnel and celebrates street art of all types. This is a designated graffiti area and as such it is unlikely that Shave Kong is still visible.

Location: London

Keith Haring Dog

Keith Haring Dog, which was discovered in October 2010 in Bermondsey, London, pays tribute to legendary street artist Keith Haring. There is a juxtaposition of the hooded boy in Banksy’s dark and menacing stencil style and the more playful look of iconic stylized dog that Haring made famous in the 1980’s. The owner of the building which this piece adorns has attempted to preserve it with a clear perspex overlay.

Location: London

Rat 3D Glasses

Another Park City piece came as something of a surprise when it was uncovered months after its creation when the snow melted in Spring 2010. Rats are frequently used by Banksy in his work. This one is hard to spot due to it being on a planter at ground level on the Main street.

Location: Utah

Gangsta Rat

Banksy’s ‘Gangsta Rat’ character has appeared at various locations, but perhaps the most well documented ‘Gangsta Rat’ is the one in the picture here, which was first spotted at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London in 2006. The rat, who is indeed looking rather ‘gangster’ with his chain and baseball cap, was later sold at auction.

Location: London

Reindeers

Banksy’s very own team of reindeer painted on a wall in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, pulling a bench that homeless people use as a bed appeared this Christmas. Rather than exploit ‘the homeless’, this painting empowers rough sleepers to draw attention to their individuality - this message was underlined in a video posted to Banksy's Instagram along with the ironic song "I'll Be Home for Christmas".

Location: Birmingham

Girl and Mouse

The cleverest thing about Banksy’s Girl and Mouse (also known as Girl on Stool) is the little mouse. The natural decay of the masonry has been used by adding a tail and ears. The piece was created by Banksy on a visit to New Orleans in 2008 along with many others in the city. This piece is still visible although it is fairly faded and the girl has had other graffiti tagged over her.

Location: New Orleans

I’m Out Of Bed Rat

Often people will go to extraordinary lengths to preserve a Banksy artwork and in the case of the ‘I’m Out Of Bed Rat’ this is particularly true. It was originally painted on a Stucco wall in Los Angeles in 2002, but this began to deteriorate and so it was removed in 2013 and transported to Brooklyn and then on to Italy to be restored.

Location: Brooklyn

Let Them Eat Crack

Banksy is well known for his use of rats and this particular example discovered in Wall street in 2008 is a great example. In a play on the famous quote attributed to Marie Antoinette, he proclaims “let them eat crack” in commentary on the public outrage at how financial matters were being handled around the time. Needless to say it was soon painted over!

Location: New York

Winnie The Pooh Bear Trap

One of the works that has appeared in Banksy’s home town of Bristol is his rendition of beloved character Winnie the Pooh depicted caught in a bear trap with a pot of money on the ground rather than his usual honey!

Location: Bristol

Kentucky Fox

Kentucky Fox shows the silhouette of a fox dragging away the colonel’s head (of KFC fame). The mural appeared in 2009 close to Angel Tube

Location: London

No Ball Games Rat

Banksy’s No Ball Games Rat features a rat bouncing a ball below an existing ‘no ball games sign.’ Rats are one of the things that Banksy uses often and they have become something of a trademark. This particular rat was removed by thieves and put up for sale on eBay!

Location: London

Toxic Rat

Another of Banksy’s rats shows a rat with a barrel of toxic waste spilling across the pavement. Several copies have been seen around LA, but none have been confirmed as being by Banksy. This original one is now barely visible.

Location: Los Angeles

Gorilla With Pink Mask

The Gorilla With Pink Mask in Banksy’s hometown of Bristol was in place for more than 10 years on the side of a former social club and was a big tourist attraction in town. However, in 2011 the new owner of the building – now a Muslim cultural centre – painted over the piece not having heard of Banksy or realising that it was valuable.

Location: Bristol

Rodeo Cowboy Kid

The Gorilla With Pink Mask in Banksy’s hometown of Bristol was in place for more than 10 years on the side of a former social club and was a big tourist attraction in town. However, in 2011 the new owner of the building – now a Muslim cultural centre – painted over the piece not having heard of Banksy or realising that it was valuable.

Location: Bristol

Keep Your Coins, I Want Change

Rumoured to be a work of Banksy but possibly not, this piece was supposedly discovered in Melbourne. It shows a homeless man who appears to be asking for change but not in the physical change – as he says, he wants social change rather than coinage. Regardless of whoever actually produced this, it’s a striking piece with a deep meaning.

Washing Zebra Stripes

A woman washing zebra stripes was painted by Banksy in the capital city of Mali, Timbuktu and shows a “naked” zebra standing by as his stripes are hung up to dry by an African lady. There appears to be little in the way of any obvious meaning to this piece. It is a playful piece, but maybe the fact that it appeared in the drought-ridden country of Mali and the absurdity of using water in such a frivolous way points to an issue that perhaps the western world could, and should, do more to help impoverished people in the developing world.

Ukraine Lady In Gas Mask

Banksy visited war-torn Ukraine and left them with a number of pieces of art to show his support for the country that has been at war since February 2022.

Ukraine Man In Bath

Banksy visited war-torn Ukraine and left them with a number of pieces of art to show his support for the country that has been at war since February 2022.

Ukraine Children Tank Trap See Saw

Banksy visited war-torn Ukraine and left them with a number of pieces of art to show his support for the country that has been at war since February 2022.

Ukraine Irpin Gymnast

Banksy visited war-torn Ukraine and left them with a number of pieces of art to show his support for the country that has been at war since February 2022.

Ukraine Penis Missile

Banksy visited war-torn Ukraine and left them with a number of pieces of art to show his support for the country that has been at war since February 2022.Banksy visited war-torn Ukraine and left them with a number of pieces of art to show his support for the country that has been at war since February 2022.

Stop Sign (Ceasefire)

Banksy's stop sign piece is believed to be a call for ceasefires in Gaza, though Banksy himself has not confirmed the meaning.

Soldiers Painting CND Sign

Originally painted close to the Houses of Parliament in London, the original version of Banksy’s Soldiers Painting the CND sign was confiscated for allegedly breaking laws regarding protests in this area. It has been suggested that it represents the repression of free speech as well as acting as an anti-war protest. The piece was recreated and displayed in a collection at the Tate Britain gallery in 2007.

Ghetto Boy

Ghetto Boy caused something of a stir when it appeared in Hackney in 2009 . It was one of 2 new Banksy pieces discovered in the London area (the other being Last Graffiti) after the artist took a short hiatus from creating new works. Unfortunately this piece has since been removed. Ghetto Boy depicted a small boy in street clothes clutching a ghetto blaster and a teddy bear, with the pavement beneath painted as a dance mat. It is believed this was a comment on gang culture in the area which had seen an increase in child involvement around that time.

Child Soldier

The theme of weapons and children is a recurring one in Banksy’s pieces. This child soldier bearing a machine gun appeared in Westwood, Los Angeles in 2011 on a wall of “Urban Outfitters” although it didn’t last long before it was vandalised with paint. The piece is no doubt an attempt to highlight the corrupted innocence of children and it is not uncommon to see children brandishing guns and involved in conflicts in highly volatile parts of the world.

Guantanamo Bay Detainee

The war on terror was declared soon after 9/11. This Banksy piece is intended to highlight the “secrer” war on terror that has taken place – primarily at Guantanamo Bay where terror suspects are detained. This Guantanamo Bay detainee in Islington is a less than subtle reminder that we do not live an entirely free society. The image has since been removed although its precise location in Islington is unknown.

Stop and Search (Girl and a Soldier)

Girl and a Soldier is one of the 2007 pieces that Banksy put up on a wall in Bethlehem. The innocent little girl is seen frisking an armed soldier in a stark reversal of roles. This along with other images on the wall were intended to promote the annual Santa’s Ghetto exhibit. The piece is still visible although somewhat faded.

Javelin Thrower

In the run up to the London 2012 Olympics, Banksy created 2 Olympic themed artworks. This one known as ‘Welcome to Hackney’ or ‘Javelin Thrower’ shows an athlete throwing a missile. This is in protest of the decision to add surface to air missile launchers on top of some residential tower blocks in the city as part of the security measures during the games. The location was closely guarded to avoid it being removed.

No Trespassing

No Trespassing features an Native American Indian sitting on the ground, lamenting the intrusion of the white man and the troubles they brought with them. It appears on a wall in the Mission District of San Francisco in 2010 but was soon marred by other graffiti tags and has now been completely painted over in March 2011

Very Little Helps

Very Little Helps, appeared on London’s Essex Road in 2008 and features children saluting as another child runs a Tesco branded carrier bag up a flagpole. From time to time, pranksters would also add a real Tesco bag to the mural.

Forgive Our Trespassing

Forgive us our trespassing was one of several pieces completed in the run up to the premiere of Banksy’s ‘Exit Through the Gift Shop’ at the 2010 Sundance Festival in Utah. It shows a young boy seemingly seeking forgiveness for his act of Vandalism and some suggest it refers to Banksy’s own conflicted feelings about his work. Several versions of the boy were seen around Salt Lake City and Park City, but this particular one was painted over.

Cave Painting Removal

This particular Banksy lasted only 4 months from May 2008 to August 2008. It was created in Leake Street Tunnel (also known as Banksy Tunnel) a designated graffiti area. It was soon covered with other works, such is the ever changing nature of the tunnel. It is an ironic piece that showed ancient cave paintings being cleaned by a council worker, highlighting how art is often destroyed by those who don’t understand it. Is Banksy referencing the destruction of his own work?

Blank Walls Are Criminal

Simple, yet Iconic this is one of the most well known Banksy artworks. It highlights that a blank wall is just empty space until it is decorated! There has been some debate over whether or not Banksy painted this or another street artist called Form, however it is widely accepted as a Banksy.

Cash Machine Girl

An eye-catching stencil by Banksy depicting a girl being grabbed by the robotic arm of a cash machine, this piece of work has been revisited by Banksy and is reported to have first appeared in its current state in May 2007 close to Exmouth Market in North London. The message appears to be anti-capitalist, with Banksy perhaps taking a swipe at high street banks luring customers in.

Interest in People

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Napalm Girl

In an attack on consumerism, Banksy created Napalm Girl in 2004. It features a reproduction of an iconic photograph of a young girl during a napalm bombing in Vietnam in the seventies. In Banksy’s version the terrified naked girl is caught between Ronald McDonald and Mickey Mouse. The piece was created on cartridge paper and has been exhibited internationally in many different galleries.

Tesco Sandcastle

This Banksy work was found in Hastings and depicts a young child building sandcastles. This in itself is not controversial, but when we notice that Tesco is printed on the sandcastles it takes on a new meaning. Consumerism is a common theme in Banksy’s work and here he seems to be indicating that the supermarket giant is taking over the country! The artwork is still visible on the Sea wall although it has been defaced by other graffitti artists

Sunflower Field Gas Mark

Banksy seems to be making a comment about how society views street artists like him. While the stereotypical graffiti artist is masked and hooded, some have good intentions. In this mural, the gas mask is on the sinister side, but instead of the artists face, we see a bright and sunny field of sunflowers.

Migrant Child

This appeared in Italian city’s Dorsoduro district where it was first spotted during the venice biennale 2019 art fair. The artwork portrays a migrant child wearing a lifejacket and holding a neon pink flare.

Bomb Hugger

The picture of a young girl hugging a bomb to her chest was one of Banksy’s original creations back in 2003, where it was reproduced on a wall in London’s East End. The piece symbolises the horror of war next to the innocence and purity of the young girl – good and evil unified and questioned as to why we inherently indulge in war and fighting when peace can be all around us. Thought-provoking stuff.

We're All in The Same Boat

Banksy strikes again in Lowestoft, a coastal town in the east of the UK. This new work appears to show a child building a sandcastle next to a bit of dug-up road with the message written above it. It appeared on the 7th of August 2021

Valentines Day Marsh Lane

It appeared on the side of a building in Barton Hill on Marsh Lane overnight on Thursday (13 February 2020), with residents discovering it on the side of a house around 6.20am.This piece features a child – potentially Cupid – which many noted is similar to previous works painted by Banksy, with a slingshot.

Escaping Prisoner

Spotted in the early hours of Monday 1st March on the side of Reading prison. It shows a man dressed in a striped prisoner’s uniform scaling the side of the building on a knotted rope.Beneath the man, the chain is shown to be made of paper and coming out of a typewriter. Some have said that the man is meant to represent Irish poet Oscar Wilde, who was imprisoned at the jail from 1895 to 1897 on charges of gross indecency with other men. Following his release from the prison, Wilde wrote the poem “The Ballad of Reading Gaol” about a hanging that took place while he served his sentence, which could link to the typewriter.

Take This Society

This Banksy was discovered on the busy Holland Park Roundabout in the Shepherd’s Bush area of London. It showed the silhouette of a little boy in the act of painting the slogan. This has since been whitewashed and is no longer visible.

Looting Soldiers

This piece in New Orleans is a comment on the alleged looting that took place all over the city in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. This piece has since been damaged and painted over, but the buildings owner has had it removed and is looking to restore it to its former glory.

If At First You Don’t Succeed

If First You Don’t Succeed.. features a young man in a gas mask accompanied by the words “If at first you don’t succeed – call an airstrike”. It was discovered in San Francisco and is believed to be poking fun at America’s perceived willingness to call an airstrike on any country who won’t cooperate with them.

Abraham Lincoln

Banksy’s Abraham Lincoln is another of the works that appeared in the city around the 3rd anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and all of them seemed to comment on the slow reconstruction of the city. Banksy represented Lincoln as a homeless man, but the dilapidated building that it was once painted on is long gone.

Twin Towers

On day 15 of the Better Out Than In tour, Banksy’s posted a controversial tribute to the September 11 attacks. He painted a silhouette of the twin towers and added an orange flower to represent the explosion

Cut It Out

Of all the Banksy artworks on the Israeli West Bank wall, this is the most simple. A perforated line with scissors. Yet it is a powerful statement urging by-passers to cut a hole in the wall and reunite the people.

Brexit

His latest piece features a man removing a star from the European Union flag. It appeared in Dover Sunday 7th May 2017

Graffiti Is A Crime

Graffiti Is a Crime is the first of Banksy’s pieces from his month long ‘residency’ in New York City in October 2013. The piece incorporates his distinctive stencil technique and pokes fun at the law by incorporating an anti-graffiti sign. However, within hours of it being posted on Banksy’s Instagram profile the sign which played an integral part of the piece had been stolen and by the next day city officials had painted over the work

Secured

There is some debate over whether or not Secured is actually a genuine Banksy artwork. It appeared on a boarded up window of a building in Concert Street, Liverpool and pokes fun at companies who use cheap migrant workers for jobs such as security guards. The full text reads “Secured – by sleepy migrant workers on minimum wage”. The board was exhibited at the Stealing Banksy exhibition, but as this was not done in partnership with Banksy and none of that displayed artworks were authenticated by Banksy or his representative Pest Control this does not prove that this is a genuine Banksy.

Aerial Flower Girl

Flower Aerial Girl, in Los Angeles, features a young girl in silouhette tending a television aerial in the same manner as one would a pot of flowers. The aerial appears to have grown and has sprouted leaves suggesting that the more kids pay attention to TV, the more influence it cultivates. The piece remained relatively untouched on a gas station in Valero until the owner cut it out of the wall and auctioned it for a healthy sum.

Luxury Rentals Only

Cromer is famous for crabs so maybe this is what inspired this piece. The council encourages people to come and see the piece before the sea naturally washes it away and has recently decided to try and preserve the piece.An expert has said this combines messages of homelessness, refuges and the housing market with humour.

Model Village

Painted on to a model house that staff had never seen before, it would have blended straight into the village if it hadn't been for Banksy's distinctive touch...It is now being protected by a clear box and is only on display at certain times of the day as well as being monitored by staff.

Amusement Arcade Crane

Since the work was confirmed as a Banksy, Great Yarmouth Borough Council has been protecting it, installing a Perspex cover and hiring security guards (similar to the other piece that appeared).An art expert has said 'What he's done at Gorleston is to use a powerful silhouette at scale to intimidate anyone on the bench, but also to pay homage to one of the most memorial emblems of the arcade'

Couple Dancing

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Steam Roller Traffic Warden

The Steam Roller Traffic Warden appeared on a steam roller parked at the kerbside in Lewisham, London in 2009 and is less thought-provoking, more plain amusing. Let’s face it, nobody likes traffic wardens (right?!) so this is a highly comical piece made even more amusing by the way the warden throws his arms up in the air.

This is not a Photo Opportunity

In one of the more unusually-placed positions, the white-stencilled words “This is not a Photo Opportunity” appear approximately 40 metres up a steep, rocky path just off Cliff Road (B3135) in the picturesque Cheddar Gorge in Somerset. It first appeared in around 2004 and although it has weathered significantly since then it’s outline is still visible

Snorting Policeman

This “Snorting Copper” stencil began appearing from 2005 in several places in London, including behind Waterloo Station (Leake Street) as well as in Shoreditch (Curtain Street). The artworks also included several miles of paint “dribble” which trailed through the city and led to the stencil representing a ‘line’ of coke. This piece by Banksy is unquestionably a dig at the immorality and corruption sometimes prevalent in the police force. Perhaps not too surprisingly, this piece was removed.

Gun-Toting Clown

Several of these appeared in Bristol, most notably on Hotwell Road where this photo was taken. As with “Bomb Hugger” this image mixes the innocence of children (in this case a children’s entertainer) with weaponry and destruction to demonstrate that innocence can easily be shattered and trust broken.

Lenin Punk

Mocking world leaders and notorious dictators is typical fodder for Banksy, and the ex-Soviet premier Lenin got this punk-style mohican makeover way back in 1997 where it appeared outside a public toilet in Weston-super-Mare, approximately ten miles from Banksy’s stamping ground of Bristol.

Lenin on Roller Blades

Staying on the subject of Lenin, ever wondered how he’d look on roller blades? Well, this is how it would look, as originally created by Banksy in 2003 and entitled Lenin on Rollerblades (Who Put the Revolution on Ice?). The original piece was sold off at auction by Bonhams.

This’ll Look Nice When It’s Framed

This was produced in around April 2010 during a tour of San Francisco by Banksy. The message here beyond its literal meaning is quite unclear, with a boy holding a paint brush next to the words ‘This’ll look nice when it’s framed’. Unfortunately, the piece has since been removed.

Fake Plato Quote

This fake quote from Plato was part of Banksy’s Better Out Than In residency in New York during October 2013. It appeared in Brooklyn on Day 8. The quote appeared on a door which has since been removed completely.

Tox

Banksy is no stranger to controvery, but sometimes it is not the pieces of his art you would expect that prove to be the most divisive. Tox is one of those pieces. In June 2011, graffiti lover Daniel Halpin, aka Tox was convicted of tagging multiple locations over a three year period. The prosecution mocked him as ‘no Banksy’ due to a lack of artistry in his tagging. In response Banksy put up the piece which shows a little boy writing ‘Tox’ in bubbles. Opinion is split as to whether this is a show of solidarity or being used to poke fun at Halpin.

Thug For Life Bunny

Banksy’s Thug For Life Bunny was originally in London, but has since been painted over. In typical Banksy style the cute bunny seems at odds with the cigar and excessive bling more suited to hip hop artists. Perhaps it is a comment on how the younger generations are being lured into this ‘thug’ lifestyle that is glamorized in the media?

Tap Phoned

In Summer 2011 one story dominated the British headlines – phone and voicemail hacking by journalists. This visual pun is a tongue in cheek take on that making use of an existing tap on the wall and proclaiming “Oh no.. my tap’s been phoned

Cameraman and Flower

Cameraman and Flower appeared on the wall of a Park City coffee shop in the lead up to the premier of Banksy’s film at Sundance in 2010. It represents the lengths people go to in order to preserve beauty, but often lead to it’s destruction as in this case where the cameraman has uprooted the flower in order to film it.

Peaceful Hearts Doctor

Peaceful Hearts Doctor appeared on a wall in San Francisco in 2010. The piece shows an old fashioned style doctor along with a free hand heart and peace symbol. The artwork was covered with Plexiglass to preserve it, but vandals have since poured black paint inside it which has damaged the doctor.

Pissing Soldier

Pissing Guard (also known as Queen’s Guard Pissing) is said to represent how the authorities control the public. The distinctive guards are most often seen at Buckingham Palace and are known for not being able to move while on duty so it is strange to see one in this position – urinating on a street corner.

Bubble Slide Girl

Bubble Slide Girl was painted on the wall of a youth club in Hackney, East London in February 2008. It depicts a little girl using a drain pipe as a slide while blowing bubbles. The image shows the girl adapting to her surroundings and finding a playground in an unlikely place, just as society continues to adapt to difficulties in the world around us. Unfortunately this particular example of Banksy’s work has now been removed with only a faint outline still visible.

Swing Girl

Located in a car park on Broadway, Downtown LA, Swing Girl is another example of Banksy making use of what was already there. The ‘ing’ portion of the parking sign have been whitewashed out to form park and a girl on a swing added to the letter A. It seems clear that it is a comment on how there is a lack of places for kids to play safely in what is a fairly rough area of LA. The artwork appeared in 2010 a few days prior to the LA première of Banksy’s film Exit Through The Gift Shop

Think Tank (Blur Album Cover Art)

In 2005, Banksy designed the cover art for Blur’s seventh studio album ‘Think Tank’. This led many to accuse Banksy of selling out, but nevertheless it is a great example of his work. Ironically, due to a ban on all graffiti related posters by London Transport, Blur had difficulty advertising the album thanks to Banksy’s cover art!

Sneezing Woman

Spotted by Tristan Kay, a senior lecturer at University of Bristol this piece appeared on the wall of a semi-detached house on Vale Street in Totterdown. It depicts a woman sneezing and dropping her bag.

Yellow Lines Flower Painter

Once again Banksy has used existing feature to enhance his work. Here the double yellow lines of the road are extended across the pavement and up the wall where they bloom into a flower. The pavement lines have been removed and the painter’s face is mostly obscured with newer graffiti, but the flower is still clear.

Old Woman (You Looked Better on MySpace)

This tongue in cheek piece appeared in Los Angeles in 2006 and clearly pokes fun at the large numbers of girls on MySpace who used flattering angles and photo editing to make themselves appear more attractive. It depicts an old lady with the comment ‘You Looked Better on Myspace’.

Baby Carriage

This is the earliest known Banksy in the Chicago area and is well preserved despite the city’s hard line policy when it comes to removing street art. The baby carriage is seen falling down stairs, which are actually the remnants of where real stairs once stood.

I Must Not Copy What i See On The Simpsons - New Orleans

Another of Banksy’s New Orleans works sees a realistic version of Bart Simpson writing lines as seen in the title sequence of The Simpsons cartoon series. The work seems almost prophetic given that Banksy went on to create an opening sequence for the show later. New Orleans is protective of Banksy and the piece is covered by a board.

Death Of A Telephone Box

Banksy is usually most well known for his 2 dimensional graffiti art, but from time to time his installations also cause something of a stir. This broken telephone box appeared overnight in a Soho street complete with an axe and pool of blood. The piece featured in Banksy’s “Exit Throguh The Gift Shop” film, but did it represent the death of phone communication thanks to the birth of social media or did BT get it right when the embraced the work as a representation of their change away from the iconic red phoneboxes to a more modern design.

Death Of A Telephone Box

Banksy is usually most well known for his 2 dimensional graffiti art, but from time to time his installations also cause something of a stir. This broken telephone box appeared overnight in a Soho street complete with an axe and pool of blood. The piece featured in Banksy’s “Exit Throguh The Gift Shop” film, but did it represent the death of phone communication thanks to the birth of social media or did BT get it right when the embraced the work as a representation of their change away from the iconic red phoneboxes to a more modern design.

Robot and Barcode

Robot and Barcode is another of the pieces from Banksy’s ‘Better Out Than In’ residency in New York during October 2013. This piece was found on Day 28 in Coney Island.

Space Girl With Bird

Banksy’s Space Girl With Bird was one of the pieces commissioned for Blur’s album Think Tank and appears on the cover of a free supplement cd sample given out with The Observer newspaper. The art work originally appeared on a wall in Chicago.

I Remember When All This Was Trees

I Remember When All This Was Trees caused a great deal of controversy when it appeared on the derelict Packard auto-mobile plat in Detroit. There had been ongoing debates over who was responsible for the costs of cleaning up the abandoned site so it probably should not have come as a surprise that the appearance of the Banksy also sparked debates surrounding ownership. Ultimately the piece was removed and can now be seen on display at the 555 Gallery

Ice Cream Bomb

The original version of Ice Cream Bomb was painted on a wall at Brighton Beach in 2004, but a second version on a wooden palette was later displayed in a London gallery.

Last Graffiti Before Motorway

Last Graffiti Before Motorway appeared at the junction of the North Circular Road and the A1 leaving North London in 2009. However it was soon vandalised and has since been removed from the wall.

TV Through Window

TV Through Window was at the time of writing still in existence albeit behind some plywood boards. It shows a tv set being thrown through a broken window

Mobile Phone Lovers

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This Is My New York Accent

Banksy’s Better Out Than In pieces in New York have met with some differing opinions. Many New Yorkers love them while others deem them acts of vandalism. However, with Ghetto for Life which appeared in the Bronx, the majority of residents found the work to be offensive saying that it helps to perpetuate stereotypes. It seems many have focused on the words and not the artwork which depicts a little boy spraying the words and being waited on by a butler. Banksy seems to be saying that the ‘ghetto’ image is just that – an image used for style purposes. That didn’t stop people flocking to see it and the building’s owner employed guards to protect it!

Policeman Searching Girl

The introduction of a ‘stop and search’ policy allowing Police to search any young people they deemed may be up to no good was met with much criticism so it is no surprise to see Banksy weigh in on the debate. Policeman Searching Girl appeared in Glastonbury in 2007 showing a young girl with a teddy being frisked by a policeman. It has since been painted out.

Mona Lisa With Rocket Launcher

The Mona Lisa is perhaps the most famous painting of all time, and it is also one which is often parodied. Banksy is no exception. This re-imagining of Mona Lisa as a terrorist toting a rocket launcher appeared in London. It has been spotted in various locations, but it is unclear as to whether these are copies or if they all belong to the elusive Banksy.

Rat Running

Banksy mural to appear in New York shows a rat running around a clock. The building is set to be demolished to make way for condos. It is currently not know if the mural has a hidden message.