Foto banksy.ru
According to the agency’s journalists, the most likely person hiding behind the pseudonym is Robin Gunningham, a native of the British city of Bristol, born in 1973. This name has already appeared in the investigations of the British press earlier, but now journalists say that they have managed to collect additional documents and evidence that allows to restore the biography of the artist and the history of his career.
One of the key elements of the investigation was the archival documents of American law enforcement agencies. According to police records, in September 2000, a man was arrested in the Meatpacking District in New York City, who was redesigning a billboard for the Marc Jacobs fashion brand. In a handwritten confession attached to the case, the detainee gave the name Robin Gunningham. The charge was later reclassified to disorderly conduct, after which the man paid a fine and performed several days of community service.
Journalists also note that in 2008, the artist allegedly may have legally changed his name to further confuse possible searches. According to the investigation, the new official identity could have been the common British name David Jones.
In the management of commercial activities of the artist, an important role is played by the organization Pest Control Office, which confirms the authenticity of works and controls their sale to collectors. This structure actually became the center of the system that protects the anonymity of the author and regulates the market for his works.
Banksy’s works today sell for millions of dollars. One of the most famous episodes was the story at a Sotheby’s auction in 2018, when the painting “Girl with Balloon” partially self-destructed right after the sale, turning into a new work called “Love is in the Bin”.
Despite the investigation’s findings, representatives for the artist declined to confirm the data. His lawyer Mark Stephens said that the publication of such information could violate the artist’s right to privacy. Banksy himself for many years emphasized that anonymity remains an important part of his work and freedom of artistic expression.
