Banksy

“Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.”

The man, the myth, the legend. Undoubtedly, the most famous street artist in the world is Banksy. He came in like a storm and took over the art world, making himself the true epitome of street art. In today's art world, Banksy can be described as the master of satirical painting. His staggering art full of irony makes it a devastating critique of snobbery and smug elitism, tackling almost all parts of our society. From wars, global warming, and freedom, to poverty, politics, and religion, he has done it all. He has been literally provoking alternative viewpoints and encouraging revolution in the art world for so many years.

But why is Banksy such a big deal in the art world? What is it about his art that captures our hearts and minds? Well, part of it is that he's managed to maintain anonymity for his entire career, even though he's pulling off high-visual pieces. And the big part of his popularity comes down to how much he's loved by other street artists. The respect of your peers is a powerful thing. His work includes powerful, often controversial images, encouraging the rapid spread of his name and work across the internet. Today, his iconic works have been re-shared and repurposed beyond measure, and they sell for millions of dollars, some even being cut whole from walls in the street to be auctioned. Banksy is everywhere and nowhere, his unique art style is a remarkably vivid visual poetry that leaves people speechless.