Who is Robbie Banks? Rumours over true identity of Banksy swirl
OVER the years there has been much talk about who the mysterious graffiti artist Banksy really is.
But now, thanks to an unearthed interview that is decades old, fans are the closest they have ever been to unmasking him.
Who is Robbie Banks?
After much speculation about who the mysterious Banksy is, it looks like his identity might have been revealed.
In an unearthed BBC interview, the guerrilla street artist identified himself as a man called Robbie Banks.
The Bristol-based street artist was talking about his show Turf War in east London, when the interviewer asked: “Are you happy for me to use your name?"
To which Banksy replied: “Yeah.”
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“Is it Robert Banks?” the journalist continued, and Banksy replied: “It’s Robbie.”
When was Banksy's identity revealed?
The unearthed BBC interview is from 2003, but was only shared on November 20, 2023.
Banksy, who was working on Turf War, spoke to former BBC arts correspondent Nigel Wrench about the anti-authority nature of his work.
However, only 20 years later have the Beeb decided to release the interview in full.
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The Bansky Story is available on BBC Sounds, and fans will hear him say that his name as "Robbie Banks".
Is Robbie Banks also Robin Gunningham?
Over the years, Banksy’s real identity has long been speculated about.
One such name is that of Robin Gunningham, who was named as the first defendant in a legal action accusing Banksy and his company Pest Control Ltd of defamation.
Also, in 2008, a picture of a man in Jamaica emerged who was allegedly the mysterious artist.
The man in the photograph, it was claimed, was formerly known as Robin Gunningham, the Mail on Sunday revealed.
However, Banksy has denied the photo is of him.
Robin was born in 1973 in Bristol, also known to be Banksy's long-supposed stomping ground.
Far from the rebellious tearaway, what we know about Robin paints more a picture of middle class suburbia.
Other reports have suggested that Banksy could be artist and musician Robert del Naja - due to him also being a graffiti artist and member of the Bristol collective The Wild Bunch.
Art Attack star Neil Buchanan has also been named as the mysterious artist in the past.
The rumour started in 2020 when a Twitter user suggested he was in fact the mind behind artworks like Balloon Girl and Love is in the Bin.
Neil issued an unequivocal denial of the rumour he is Banksy on his website.
French artist Mr. Brainwash's name has also been thrown into ring as being potentially Banksy.
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A number of art critics over the years have said that his work strongly emulates the styles and concepts of the allusive graffiti artist.
Mr Brainwash has neither confirmed or denied that he is Banksy.
