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Banksy

Banksy Quotes

Artist

Banksy is a British anonymous street artist known for his distinctive graffiti and installation art. His work often features satirical and confrontational elements, commenting on social phenomena. Banksy's art has gained worldwide attention, and his artistic style combines street art with traditional painting techniques.

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Famous Banksy Quotes

“I give away thousands of paintings for free.”

Giving Painting

Author:Banksy

“It's impossible to predict which paintings will last and which won't. In New Orleans I painted on a dilapidated shop in a street littered with abandoned cars and rotting mattresses, then two hours later the piece was gone. It turned out I'd picked the side of a crack house and the proprietor didn't like the attention.”

Two Lasts House Sides Hours Attention Gone Pieces Impossible Streets Car Painting Shops Cracks Abandoned New Orleans Rotting Mattresses

Author:Banksy

“The one thing you can rely on is if you get disturbed halfway through a painting and it looks a bit naff, then someone will preserve that piece, remove it and a few months later it'll be paraded round Sotheby's by people wearing white gloves.”

People Ifs Looks Bits White Pieces One Thing Painting Months Rounds Preserves Rely Remove Halfway Disturbed Gloves Wearing White

Author:Banksy

“People are fond of using military terms to describe what they do. We call it bombing when we go out painting, when of course it's more like entertaining the troops in a neutral zone, during peacetime in a country without an army.”

People Country Courses Term Military Painting Army Zone Entertaining Troops Bombing

Author:Banksy

“Painting something that defies the law of the land is good. Painting something that defies the law of the land and the law of gravity at the same time is ideal.”

Law Land Painting Ideals Gravity

Author:Banksy

“I'd been painting rats for three years before someone said 'that's clever it's an anagram of art' and I had to pretend I'd known that all along.”

Years Art Said Three Known Painting Clever Three Years Rats Graffiti Street Art Wall And Piece Graffiti Art Graffiti Artist Anagrams

Book:Banksy: wall and piece

Source: Banksy: wall and piece

“Policemen and security guards wear hats with a peak that comes down low over their eyes. Apparently this is for psychological reasons. Eyebrows are very expressive and you appear a lot more authoritative if you keep them covered up. The advantage of this is that it makes a lot harder for cops to see anything more than six foot off the ground. Which is why painting rooftops and bridges is so easy.”

Source: Banksy: wall and piece

“Remember crime against property is not real crime. People look at an oil painting and admire the use of brushstrokes to convey meaning. People look at a graffiti painting and admire the use of a drainpipe to gain access.”

People Looks Real Use Remember Crime Painting Gains Property Oil Access Admire Graffiti Wall And Piece Oil Painting

Author:Banksy

“Graffiti ultimately wins out over proper art because it becomes part of your city, it' s a tool; "I'll meet you in that pub, you know, the one opposite that wall with a picture of a monkey holding a chainsaw". I mean, how much more useful can a painting be than that?”

Knows Mean Art Winning Cities Painting Wall Tools Opposites Monkeys Pubs Graffiti Chainsaw

Author:Banksy

“On Painting Rats, and the Glorification of Them. 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.”

“T.V. has made going to the theatre seem pointless, photography has pretty much killed painting but graffiti has remained gloriously unspoilt by progress.”

Made Seems Progress Painting Photography Theatre Pointless Graffiti

Book:Banksy: wall and piece

Source: Banksy: wall and piece

“I’ve learnt from experience that a painting isn’t finished when you put down your brush – that’s when it starts. The public reaction is what supplies meaning and value. Art comes alive in the arguments you have about it.”

Art Values Alive Painting Argument Finished Reactions Brushes Supplies

Author:Banksy

“I think its pretty clear that film is the pre-eminent art form of our age. If Michaelangelo or Leonardo Da Vinci were alive today they’d be making Avatar, not painting a chapel. Film is incredibly democratic and accessible, it’s probably the best option if you actually want to change the world, not just re-decorate it.”

Ifs Thinking World Want Art Age Today Film Form Clear Alive Painting Democratic Changing The World Live For Today Chapel Leonardo

Author:Banksy

“If Michaelangelo or Leonardo Da Vinci were alive today they’d be making Avatar, not painting a chapel.”

Ifs Today Alive Painting Live For Today Chapel Leonardo

Author:Banksy

About the Author

Born: 1974
Known for: Artist
Quotes: 131

Related Topics

Graffiti Art Wall And Piece People Street Art Graffiti Art Ifs Graffiti Artist World Painting Want Knows Looks Artist Needs Thinking Used Should Use Banging

Popular Topics

People Ifs Thinking Knows Men World Way Want Love Life Inspirational Needs Giving Feels Should Writing Trying Years Mind Firsts

Books & Sources

Banksy: wall and pieceRelated source material

Wall and PieceRelated source material

Banksy Locations & Tours Volume 2: A Collection of Graffiti Locations and Photographs from Around the U.K.Related source material

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