How does Banksy make a living?
Are you curious to know how one of the most recognized contemporary artists of the moment earns his life? Would you like to know how Banksy made to make money despite the fact that the majority of his works are not marketed ?
We are passionate about the famous British street artist, and although many mysteries surround Banksy We have deciphered quite a few of them over the years.
Banksy earns his living through three sources of income: his website, where the British artist sells exclusive works; royalties from his book " Wall and Piece "; and revenue from the release of his film "Exit Through the Gift Shop ."
In this article you go and learn:
- How Banksy began his career street artist
- What is the purpose of his works beyond the financial aspect?
- How does the artist make a living from their art?
At the end of your reader, Banksy will hold no more secrets for you, you will know exactly how the British artist earns his living through his art.
Let's discover this together without further delay.
Banksy Biography: Everything You Need to Know
Before understanding how Banksy makes a living, it is important to note the means by which the street artist made himself known and acquired his notoriety.
Why is Banksy famous?
To begin with, it is important to note that it is thanks to his notoriety that the street artist British has built himself up so that he can now live fully from his art.
But how Banksy How did it acquire this notoriety? The answer is simple: thanks to his unique and recognizable style, the meaning of his works, and the scope of his latest ones. Indeed, street art murals , provided they have been painted in a busy place, are seen thousands of times during a day.
But the mysterious graffiti artist is known for painting in high-traffic areas in major cities such as Paris, London, and Bristol, his hometown.
Moreover, the intrigue that remains around him and his identity only reinforces this feeling of curiosity that the general public has. Banksy He cultivates this mystery by concealing his person, thus reinforcing his personal legend.
What does Banksy's face look like?
Indeed, the fact that Banksy gives us no information about his identity cultivates his myth and is an integral part of his success on the art scene.
Although over time numerous clues have allowed us to formulate several hypotheses about his identity, nothing has been concretely proven to be Banksy. For more information on this subject, we invite you to consult our article which lists the best theories about the identity of the famous Bristol graffiti artist.
What is Banksy's goal?
As we saw previously Banksy doesn't make art to make money, but good for expressing ideas . Without further ado discover what is the true purpose of Banksy through the creation of its works.
What is Banksy denouncing?
Indeed, Banksy's main goal through his works is to denounce the vices of modern society through several aspects.
The colonization of territories
A central theme in his work, the British street artist regularly denounces Israel's colonization of the West Bank. He has visited the "wall of shame" several times to place his stencil there.
The consumer society
Another point often raised by Banksy is the endless race for consumption and the excesses that this entails: pollution, exploitation of the most vulnerable...
Modern slavery and social inequalities
Another aspect of modern society is also targeted: modern slavery and the inequalities that result from it. Thus, many graffiti pieces depict the injustices of the modern world.
Art market speculation
Indeed, unlike many active artists Banksy does not He also doesn't hesitate to criticize the art market, which he finds abusive. For him, the fact that some of his works are sold for millions of euros by people who appropriate them makes no sense. Indeed, he often says that his works are worth the price they cost him, namely a few euros. This helps us better understand why the artist orchestrated the destruction of one of his paintings.
Why did Banksy destroy his painting?
Remember , on October 5, 2018, an auction took place in London where a painting of Banksy Girl With Balloon was sold at auction for €1.18 million by Sotheby's .
But as soon as the sale ended, the canvas began to tear apart by a blade mechanism installed by Banksy himself. He explained his actions via his account. Instagram with a quote from Picasso: “The urge to destroy is also a creative urge. ”
But if the artist destroys his works, if he doesn't sell them, how does he provide for his needs?
How does Banksy make money?
Finally, despite the fact that money is not a motive for artistic creation, Banksy needs funds to finance its works. Let's see without further delay how the artist generates revenue.
How does this British street artist work?
A key point regarding revenues Banksy is that the latter is street For an artist, this means that some of their activities are illegal and therefore cannot be commercialized.
Although some people appropriate his paintings onto their own surfaces, it would be very difficult for Banksy to monetize all of his works. However, some of his works on paper are intended for the sale but are produced in limited quantities.
How does Banksy sell his works?
As we saw previously the Bristol graffiti artist sells indeed some of his creations. To do this, he uses his website banksy.co.uk where some of his creations are available for sale at affordable prices. (but in very limited quantities) .
The mysterious artist also sells works in the street through acquaintances at sums that are completely undervalued compared to the market valuation. Some passers-by were offered... stencils at $ 60 estimated at several tens of thousands of dollars.
Does the mysterious artist receive royalties?
Banksy for Continuing to practice his art without worrying about its commercialization, he can also count on the royalties from his book " Wall and Piece ," released in 2005, which still brings him money every month. (It is estimated at several thousand euros every month.)
Meanwhile, his documentary film "Faites le mur" would bring him approximately the same amount. Enough to live comfortably and continue travelling to spread his stencils to the four corners of the world.
What is Banksy's net worth?
Today, Banksy's fortune is estimated at over $20 million, largely thanks to his royalties. In addition to this, there's the estimated value of the works he owns but hasn't put on the art market ; given that one of his pieces typically sells for over $250,000, it's easy to see that Banksy is certainly not short of money.
Hang a Banksy artwork in your home without breaking the bank.
As you have understood, Banksy, thanks to his global notoriety, does not necessarily need to sell works to continue to express his art freely.
You are now an expert on how the world's most famous street artist makes a living. It will now be very easy for you to discuss contemporary art with street art enthusiasts.
You can also display your passion on your walls without breaking the bank with a Banksy reproduction . Click on the image below and find the canvas that will make all the difference on your walls.
