BANKSY - ART THAT MAKES YOU THINK

Like Andy Warhol before him, Banksy has almost single handedly redefined what art is to a lot of people who probably never felt they appreciated art before. By being an iconoclast, and in the process becoming a mythic hero for a lot of people, Banksy has become an incredible icon in our society. One that we think, when things are said and done, will be at the level of Warhol.

The fact that Banksy's book "Wall and Piece" is in every bookstore imaginable, including Urban Outfitters, is a statement unto itself.

In 2004, Banksy walked into the Louvre in Paris and hung on a wall a picture he had painted resembling the Mona Lisa but with a yellow smiley face. Though the painting was hurriedly removed by the museum staff, it and its counterpart, temporarily on unknown display at the Tate Britain, were described by Banksy as "shortcuts". He is quoted as saying:
“ To actually [have to] go through the process of having a painting selected must be quite boring. It's a lot more fun to go and put your own one up ".



The fact that Banksy's work is now selling for hundreds of thousands of dollars at Sotheby's says alot..

But it’s a shame ‘London transport workers have painted over an iconic mural by “guerrilla artist” Banksy estimated to be worth more than £300,000.‘ Also in 2010, government workers accidentally painted over a Banksy art piece, a famed "parachuting-rat" stencil, in Australia's Melbourne CBD

Some are saying that Banksy has sold out , selling his pieces for ridiculous gobs of cash to the likes of Brangelina , Simon Cowell and the rest of the Hollywood set during his stint in LA , but it’s just plain stupid to start disliking an artist, band, etc. just because they’ve gotten popular — and in Banksy’s case, he seems to be doin g some of his best work ever now, despite the fact that he’s not just another bloke from Bristol sneaking around in the railyards to stencil witty slogans on train cars anymore.

If he’s going to keep raising the bar with new projects like this jaw-dropping Banksy vs. Bristol Museum show that was running for FREE all through the summer of '09 in his hometown , then good luck to the guy.