Banksy, often incorrectly spelled or spoken as Bansky, is one of the most famous street artists in the world and one of the most legendary, as his identity remains unknown to this day.
Many people want to buy Banksy paintings. And indeed, there is also an online shop of Banksy, probably the most popular street art artist. To even get the chance to buy Banksy art there, you first had to register and then be selected. This registration option is no longer available. The Banksy Onlineshop is called “GrossDomesticProduct” (GDP). There was also an associated pop-up store in the English town of Croydon, south of London, or pop-up shop window, with products from “GrossDomesticProduct”.
A project to sell used Banksy works is said to be the site “Bbay – The approved used Banksy dealership” linked to from the GrossDomesticProduct site. To date, this project is titled “Coming soon”, i.e. announced for soon.
Who is really behind Banksy is not known to the public until today. The artnet-database lists numerous works that are supposed to be by Banksy.
Videos of Banksy at work have surfaced time and again. Most recently, Banksy is said to have been filmed spraying by a surveillance camera in the Ukrainian city of Irpin, as a video with Banksy is supposed to prove; however, there are considerable doubts about the authenticity of this video, as it is impossible that black and white paint were applied to the wall at the same time with a spray can. The location of the camera also casts doubt on whether it is really a surveillance camera, as it is positioned extremely low and it is also not clear what it is actually monitoring.
You can also regularly see videos of Banksy on his Instagram channel, but they try to cover up his identity. From his Instagram channel, Banksy links to what appears to be his Banksy website. There it says that one should contact the site pestcontroloffice.com for enquiries, complaints, threats and hate mail, where, among other things, an authentication service of Banksy artworks is offered.
On the page of the so-called Pest Control Office there is also a sub-page with frequently asked questions and answers (FAQs).. There it says that Pest Control is the only place that would sell new works from the Banksy workshop. Banksy would not be represented by any other gallery or institution. It also clarifies that Banksy makes art and not merchandise, such as recycling his artwork on a photo canvas or toilet paper holder. However, small editions of certain Banksy products would be produced as part of of Banksy’s “GrossDomesticProduct” (GDP) sales channel.” (GDP)
Incidentally, Banksy has not only made paintings and sculptures, but also books and films.