Childhood and Education Journey of Banksy in Timeline

An overview of the childhood and early education of Banksy, highlighting the experiences that shaped the journey.

Banksy is a pseudonymous and unconfirmed England-based street artist, political activist, and film director known for satirical street art and subversive epigrams. His identity remains a mystery. His stenciled graffiti, often containing dark humor, serves as political and social commentary, appearing on streets and walls globally. Emerging from the Bristol underground scene in the 1990s, his art reflects collaboration between artists and musicians. He credits 3D from Massive Attack as an inspiration.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

1990: Start as Graffiti Artist

Banksy started as a freehand graffiti artist around 1990 as part of Bristol's DryBreadZ Crew (DBZ) with Kato and Tes. He was inspired by local artists and was part of the Bristol underground scene.

1994: End as Graffiti Artist

Banksy ended as a freehand graffiti artist around 1994 as part of Bristol's DryBreadZ Crew (DBZ) with Kato and Tes. He was inspired by local artists and was part of the Bristol underground scene.

2000: Move to London

Around 2000, Banksy reportedly moved to London after living in Easton, Bristol, during the late 1990s.

2001: Tour to Mexico

In 2001, Banksy toured with the Easton Cowboys and Cowgirls football team to Mexico, where he was the goalkeeper in the 1990s.

2003: Guardian Interview

In 2003, Banksy was described in an interview with Simon Hattenstone of The Guardian as being "white, 28, scruffy casual—jeans, T-shirt, a silver tooth, silver chain and silver earring. He looks like a cross between Jimmy Nail and Mike Skinner of The Streets."

January 2007: Death of Graffiti Artist Ozone

On 12 January 2007, graffiti artist Ozone was hit by an underground train in Barking, east London. In April 2007, Banksy made a tribute artwork over this second Pulp Fiction work.

February 2007: House with Banksy Mural for Sale

In February 2007, the owners of a house in Bristol with a Banksy mural on the side decided to sell the house through Red Propeller art gallery because prospective buyers wanted to remove the mural. It was listed as a mural that comes with a house attached.

June 2007: The Drinker Stolen

On 4 June 2007, it was reported that Banksy's The Drinker had been stolen.

2008: Mail on Sunday claims Banksy is Robin Gunningham

In 2008, The Mail on Sunday claimed that Banksy is Robin Gunningham, born on 28 July 1974 in Yate, near Bristol. This claim was supported by corroboration from Gunningham's associates and former schoolmates, and geographic profiling in 2016.

2008: Banksy Stencil Vandalized in Melbourne

In 2008, in Melbourne, paint was poured over a stencil of an old-fashioned diver wearing a trench coat.

April 2010: Melbourne Council Accidentally Paints Over Banksy Rat

In April 2010, the Melbourne City Council reported that they had inadvertently ordered private contractors to paint over a rat descending in a parachute adorning the wall of an old council building behind the Forum Theatre.

July 2011: Banksy's Gorilla in a Pink Mask Painted Over

In July 2011, one of Banksy's early works, Gorilla in a Pink Mask, was unwittingly painted over after the premises became a Muslim cultural centre. The art piece had been a prominent landmark on the exterior wall of a former social club in Eastville for over ten years.

2015: Dream Boat exhibited in Dismaland

In 2015, a sculpture titled Dream Boat, which was exhibited in Dismaland.

2016: Geographic profiling study

In 2016, a study by researchers at the Queen Mary University of London using geographic profiling found that the incidence of Banksy's works correlated with the known movements of Robin Gunningham, providing further evidence that Banksy and Robin Gunningham are the same person.

June 2017: Banksy Offers Free Prints for Anti-Conservative Voters

During the United Kingdom general election in June 2017, Banksy offered voters a free print for voting against Conservative candidates, but the offer was withdrawn after an investigation for bribery.

June 2017: Goldie refers to Banksy as "Rob"

In June 2017, DJ Goldie referred to Banksy as "Rob" in an interview for a podcast, fueling speculation about Banksy's identity.

2017: Civilian Drone Strike Sold to Raise Funds

In 2017, Banksy donated Civilian Drone Strike, which was sold at £205,000 to raise funds for Campaign Against Arms Trade and Reprieve.

2018: Banksy's Girl with Balloon Shredded at Auction

In 2018, Banksy created a piece live at Sotheby's auction. The artwork, originally Girl with Balloon, was partially shredded by a mechanism built into the frame, creating a new artwork titled Love is in the Bin.

2018: Dream Boat Raffled Off for Refugees

In 2018, a sculpture titled Dream Boat, which was exhibited in Dismaland in 2015, was raffled off in aid of the NGO Help Refugees (now called Choose Love) for a minimum donation of £2.

May 2020: Banksy Gifts Game Changer Painting

In May 2020, Banksy gifted a painting titled Game Changer to a hospital as a tribute to National Health Service workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

July 2020: Banksy Sells Paintings for Bethlehem Hospital

In July 2020, Banksy sold three paintings forming a triptych titled Mediterranean Sea View 2017, which raised £2.2 million for a hospital in Bethlehem. The paintings were originally created for The Walled Off Hotel.

August 2020: Banksy Funds Refugee Rescue Boat

In August 2020, it was revealed that Banksy had privately funded a rescue boat to save refugees at risk in the Mediterranean Sea. The boat was renamed Louise Michel and painted pink with an image of a girl holding a heart-shaped safety float.

March 2021: Game Changer Painting Sold to Benefit NHS

In March 2021, Banksy's Game Changer painting was sold for £14.4m to benefit a number of NHS-related organisations and charities.

November 2023: Rediscovered BBC Interview

In November 2023, an interview with the BBC from 2003 was rediscovered where Banksy said his forename was Robbie when asked if he was Robert Banks.

2024: Banksy Mural Appears Near Finsbury Park

On St Patricks Day, 2024, a Banksy mural appeared near Finsbury Park, featuring a worker using a pressure washer to create the artwork on a wall next to a heavily pruned tree. The artwork's green shades match Islington's municipal green. The local MP, Jeremy Corbyn, visited the mural. Experts believe the location makes it difficult to remove for auction.

February 2025: Banksy to Appear at Intellectual Property Tribunal

In February 2025, it was announced that Banksy, or a representative, would appear at a tribunal at the U.K's Intellectual Property Office, marking a rare public appearance for the artist's legal team.