Has artist Banksy's identity finally been revealed?
· Toronto Sun
After decades of guessing who it could be, it looks like the identity of world-famous street artist Banksy has finally been uncovered.
On Friday, news outlet Reuters published its findings of an in-depth investigation into who the person is behind the U.K.-based graffiti artist and activist.
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Citing evidence from a trip Banksy made to Ukraine in 2022, photographs from ex-associates and a handwritten confession note from a 2000 New York arrest, Reuters claims “beyond dispute” it knows who Banksy is.
Banksy is…?
According to the Reuters report, entitled In Search of Banksy, the artist is 51-year-old Robin Gunningham of Bristol, England. The news outlet said the man changed his name to David Jones years ago in order to avoid being identified.
Banksy’s legal team disputes Reuters’ investigation, stating the artist’s identity remains a secret.
The graffiti artist “does not accept that many of the details contained within (the) inquiry are correct,” said his lawyer, Mark Stephens. The lawyer also said the Reuters story violated the artist’s privacy, interfered with his art, and put him in danger, per Yahoo News .
Stephens noted that his client “working anonymously or under a pseudonym serves vital societal interests” by protecting freedom of expression in allowing artists to speak truthfully without fear of “retaliation, censorship or persecution.”
Reuters defended its work, stating the public has a deep interest in understanding the identity and career of an artist who has had an influence on art, culture and politics.
Reporters with Reuters have unmasked the real identity of the infamous guerilla artist named Banksy. His real name is 51 year-old Robin Gunningham of the English city of Bristol. His rather trivial, basic street art work, illegally painted on buildings and bridges, have sold for… pic.twitter.com/uGVmawOfMI
— Saint James Hartline (@JamesHartline) March 16, 2026
Graffiti art and rise to prominence
Banksy’s graffiti street art has appeared randomly on buildings across the United Kingdom since the 1990s. The artist’s work often reflects satire and anti-establishment.
One of Banksy’s most well-known works is “Girl With Balloon,” which went viral after being shredded following its sale at a Sotheby’s London auction to then create a newly-named piece, “Love Is in the Bin,” which sold for $25 million , The Hollywood Reporter reported.
Banksy most recently made headlines in September for his work “Royal Courts of Justice,” which shows a judge attacking a protester with a gavel — reportedly a response to the legal clampdown of pro-Palestine protests in England. The art was quickly scrubbed.
Banksy’s work has also been showcased in other parts of the world, including Ukraine and the West Bank, which depict the artist’s sympathy with Palestine, per Yahoo News!
The artist was long-rumoured to be Robert Del Naja, the frontman of British trip hop band Massive Attack, due to Del Naja’s political views and love of graffiti. Banksy has previously stated in a Q&A on their website that Massive Attack was an influence on their work.
The Reuters investigation was further muddied after Del Naja was also in Ukraine in 2022 and joined by another man whom they believe was Banksy.