Who is Banksy? And does it really matter? For decades, the world’s most famous anonymous street artist has kept us guessing. Now, a recent investigation claims to have finally uncovered his identity. But perhaps the more interesting question is what makes his art so powerful. Art historian Krzysztof Dobrowolski-Onclin takes us into the world of Banksy, from his provocative street art and political messages to his spectacular interventions and the carefully cultivated mystery.
Banksy began his career on the streets of Bristol in the 1990s and went on to become one of the world's best-known contemporary artists, without ever publicly revealing his identity. His distinctive stencil artworks, often political and full of dark humour, have appeared on walls around the world, particularly in Europe, and he has repeatedly managed to attract international attention with spectacular stunts. Banksy is also the creator of the much-discussed 2010 documentary Exit Through the Gift Shop.
In 2018, he famously arranged for his artwork Girl with Balloon to partially shred itself moments after being sold at auction. Was it an act of sabotage, a joke about the art market, or simply another brilliant piece of self-promotion?
Meanwhile, the mystery surrounding Banksy's identity has become almost as famous as his art. In March 2026, a three-year investigation by Reuters identified him as Robin Gunningham, a Bristol-born man who reportedly later changed his name to David Jones. The investigation uncovered new evidence, including police and court records from 2000. Banksy himself has not confirmed the findings.
So, has the mystery finally been solved? And more importantly, does knowing who Banksy is change how we see his work? Join art historian Krzysztof Dobrowolski-Onclin to explore the ideas, humor and social criticism behind Banksy's art, and discover why there's much more to this elusive artist than his hidden identity.
About the speaker
Krzysztof Dobrowolski-Onclin graduated cum laude in Art History and French Literature, having studied at universities in Amsterdam, Paris and Kraków. Since 2006, he has been giving courses and lectures on a wide range of art history topics,
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