I worked for Banksy – he acted in a way I never would have imagined
A WOMAN who worked for Banksy has claimed he acted in a way she would never have imagined.
The British-based street and graffiti artist is known for his thought-provoking and controversial works.
Although a lot of his art is produced in public places, he usually only reveals it on his social media.
Despite such recognition, Banksy's identity still remains one of the greatest mysteries of the 21st century.
But a 10-episode BBC podcast series on Radio 4 called revealed more about the life of the elusive artist.
Host and self-confessed superfan James Peak claims the show gets "closer than close to Banksy’s world and the people inside it".
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For the podcast, Peak spent a year getting to know gallerist Steph Warren, who worked with Banksy at his print house Pictures on Walls in Shoreditch in the early Noughties as young woman.
And she gave some surprising insights into his character.
Steph, who is believed to have used an anonymous name, said: "He was quite reserved.
"You could tell that he had a lot going on in his head."
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Steph added that she learnt a lot through Banksy's stellar work over the years.
She continued: "And I hate to use the word genius because I wouldn't want to call him a genius!
"But he's a very clever man. [He had] a lot of philosophies and concepts that I just didn't understand at the time, but through his work, I have been able to learn."
Speaking about her old workplace, Steph said: "The office was very DIY, you know, very punk. When I started there I was the packing girl and I was licking the stamps to go on the tubes to send the prints out, then carting them down to Old Street post office.
"It was very exciting because it felt like I could be involved with helping it grow."
Banksy's work has been spotted around the UK and has often popped up in prominent international locations.
But the artist has never been unmasked and it is believed his refusal to reveal himself started as a way of avoiding prosecution for vandalism.
Now, a new exhibition showing the works of Banksy opened in Glasgow last month - in what is his first official exhibition in 14 years.
The Cut & Run show, at Glasgow's Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA), is the first exhibition to be officially authorised by the elusive street artist in more than a decade.
The exhibition covers 25 years of Banksy's career and features a selection of the artist's stencils for the very first time.
The BBC podcast series has also uncovered dialogue from a radio interview he supposedly gave in the US 18 years ago.
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The person claiming to be Banksy can be heard speaking on National Public Radio (NPR) in March 2005.
The suspected recording came as Banksy carried out a series of stunts across arts institutions in New York, including the MET.
