Nobody ever seems to see them doing it, but whenever the mysterious artist Banksy drops a new piece of street art, word gets out fast and soon becomes a trending topic.
His latest artwork in London had lots of attention in the news and on socials. Banksy's reputation means people often rush to see a new piece of street art, taking pictures and sharing it, which takes it to a wider audience. The painting has now been removed but there are lots of other examples of Banksy's work on display in the streets of the UK and in other countries too.
Banksy is well-known for art created through spray paint and stencils that have something to say about their view of the world. Although the artist’s work is now world renowned, not everyone agrees with the messages behind it and Banksy’s works appearing on public buildings without permission is sometimes viewed as vandalism rather than street art.
Who is Banksy?
Their identity remains a mystery. News reports have referred to Banksy as 'he' and the artist is believed to have strong links with Bristol - perhaps even being born in the area - as their earliest works appeared there in the 1990s. In 2020, the former presenter of children's TV show Art Attack - Neil Buchanan - was suspected of being Banksy, but he denied this in an official statement.
Other people suspected of being Banksy are Bristol artist Robin Gunningham and Robert Del Naja, a member of the group Massive Attack. Mr Del Naja has denied it, while Mr Gunningham has never commented on the issue.
In a 2003 recording, a BBC reporter asked Banksy if he was called "Robert Banks" and got the reply "it's Robbie." It could have been a lie, or the biggest clue to Banksy's identity so far - we may never know!
How do you know if a Banksy painting is real?
Use a reliable source. The Banksy painting that appeared in London this week was photographed and shared on the artist’s verified Instagram account to 13.4 million followers. This is a good way of checking if it’s a genuine painting by the artist as it's a reliable source.
Get official proof that it is authentic. Banksy doesn’t just do street art. There are also paintings and other pieces which people may want to buy - but it helps if they know they're genuine. In Banksy’s case, a company called Pest Control issues a certificate of authentication alongside every genuine item created by the artist. Without that certificate, the piece probably isn't by Banksy. It's not Pest Control's only job, they are the official contact for anyone who wants to know more about Banksy. They can answer questions about them, and hold a detailed archive of their work, which can be used to check if pieces are genuine.
Do your own research. As well as referring to trusted and reliable organisations for the latest news, use verified sources and conduct your own research. Buyers are also encouraged to do their research. Different pieces have their own distinctive features and sizes, which can be checked on websites and sales catalogues of galleries, auctioneers and art dealers. Certificates are only issued for items that are sold, and not Banksy's street art.
When Banksy was faked
The Pest Control website mentions many fake Banksy works that have been added to things - road signs are particularly popular. People should be wary of these.
In 2021, a collector in the UK was almost scammed of hundreds of thousands of pounds, but did get most of their money back. They believed they had bought an exclusive piece of digital art from Banksy's official website. They said afterwards that Banksy's official site must have been hacked by a fake seller as they had checked it was the real web address before handing the money over. The artist's team confirmed afterwards that the artwork was not genuine. Spotting a scam is not easy, but there’s tips and advice available to help you stay safe.
In 2023, an image of a rat banging a drum appeared in Glasgow at the same time the city hosted an exhibition of the artist's work. Pest Control confirmed it was not genuine. The comedian Joe Lycett also admitted being behind a fake image in Birmingham which showed Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, reaching up for a pair of ruby slippers that were hanging above her head. It was part of a campaign to spread "silly" fake news stories for his TV show and also comment on the spread of fake news that deals with more serious subjects.
How do I know if an image is fake?
It’s not just paintings which can be faked - so can photographs. They can be misleading, particularly if they’re used to tell only one side of a story.
There are ways of checking if an image has been faked, or created using AI and passed off as genuine. You can check out our guide here.
Not every image can have certificates proving they are genuine, but by checking for reliable sources, and taking a closer look at them, it can be possible to sort out the real deals from the fakes. Using critical thinking in these situations can save us from falling for scams and fake news.
This article was updated in September 2025
Not sure if the news you’re seeing on social media is true or false? Can you always tell if the things you see online are real or fake? Learn how to get the other side of the story with our quizzes, videos and explainers.
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