Banksy Quotes

United Kingdom, Graffiti Artist
1974

Banksy is an anonymous England-based graffiti artist, political activist and film director. His satirical street art and subversive epigrams combine dark humour with graffiti executed in a distinctive stenciling technique. His works of political and social commentary have been featured on streets, walls, and bridges of cities throughout the world. Banksy's work grew out of the Bristol underground scene, which involved collaborations between artists and musicians. Banksy says that he was inspired by 3D, a graffiti artist who later became a founding member of the English musical group Massive Attack.

Also known as Film Director, Painter, Political Activist, Artivist, Street Artist

Gaza is often described as 'the world's largest open air prison' because no-one is allowed to enter or leave. But that seems a bit unfair to prisons - they don’t have their electricity and drinking water cut off randomly almost every day.

Banksy
- World
- Water
- Air
I've never really understood why people sleep. Wasting a third of your life and becoming vulnerable for almost 8 hours every night. Doesn't seem very appealing to me.

Banksy
- People
- Life
- Why

Painting something that defies the law of the land is good. Painting something that defies the law of the land and the law of gravity at the same time is ideal.

Banksy
- Time
- Good
- Law
Modern art is a disaster area. Never in the field of human history has so much been used by so many to say so little.

Banksy
- Art
- History
- Littles
Graffiti ultimately wins out over proper art because it becomes part of your city, it' s a tool; "I'll meet you in that pub, you know, the one opposite that wall with a picture of a monkey holding a chainsaw". I mean, how much more useful can a painting be than that?

Banksy
- Art
- City
- Mean
The art world is the biggest joke going. It's a rest home for the overprivileged, the pretentious, and the weak. And modern art is a disgrace - never have so many people used so much stuff and taken so long to say so little.

Banksy
- People
- World
- Long
You're mind is working at its best when you're being paranoid. You explore every avenue and possibility of your situation at high speed with total clarity.

Banksy
- Mind
- Art
- High
Is graffiti art or vandalism? That word has a lot of negative connotations and it alienates people, so no, I don't like to use the word 'art' at all.

Banksy
- People
- Art
- Graffiti

Film is incredibly democratic and accessible, it's probably the best option if you actually want to change the world, not just re-decorate it.

Banksy
- World
- Movie
- Option
You owe the companies nothing. You especially don't owe them any courtesy. They have re-arranged the world to put themselves in front of you. They never asked for your permission, don't even start asking for theirs.

Banksy
- World
- Business
- Asking
'Become good at cheating and you never need to become good at anything else.'

Banksy
- Good
- Cheating
At this time of year it's easy to forget the true meaning of Christianity - the lies, the corruption, the abuse.

Banksy
- Time
- True
- Years
It doesn't take much to be a successful artist-all you need to do is dedicate your entire life to it.

Banksy
- Life
- Artist
- Needs
All I know about what people think of my gear is what a couple of my friends tell me, and one of them always wants to borrow money, so I'm not sure how reliable he is.

Banksy
- People
- Thinking
- Money

Although you might have to creep about at night and lie to your mum it’s actually one of the more honest art forms available. There is no elitism or hype, it exhibits on the best walls a town has to offer and nobody is put off by the price of admission.

Banksy
- Art
- Night
- Wall
I don't think you should have to pay to look at graffiti. You should only pay if you want to get rid of it.

Banksy