Banksy’s satirical street art and subversive epigrams combine dark humour with graffiti executed in a distinctive stenciling technique. This particular style is usually recognised easily by people as his trademark. Most of Banksy’s pieces nowadays can be described as bold and striking with the abundance of blacks (and spot colours on occasion). His vibrant murals when he was just a starting freehand graffiti artist are lesser known to the public.
For this post, we’ve compiled a selection of Banksy’s earliest works created before he became famous for his stencil pieces.
“Slick” a freehand piece in Bristol, England, 1999
Back in 1999, Banksy was a friend of the then owner of this property who let the artist hand paint his Slick on Brick artwork, depicting a monkey plunging a detonator to blow the door off a safe, on the outside wall of his garage/workshop.
The mural was then covered over in magnolia paint by a disapproving neighbour a year after. Banksy’s work now hidden in layers of paint have been estimated to amount around £400,000 if it is restored in a way that some of his previous works have been, said art experts.
Mural in Bristol, England, 1997
Mural in Bristol, England, 1997
Mural in Bristol, England, 1997
“Slammin’” in Southmead, Bristol, England, 1999
“Quakattack” In Bristol, England, in the late 90’s
Mural in Carlton Arms Hotel in New York City, 1999
Banksy once stayed and painted at Carlton Arms, a Manhattan hotel that has been a haven for artists seeking lodging.
Banksys’ old elephant graffiti with the words “What part of thermo-nuclear war don’t you understand”
A freehand piece in Bristol, England, 1999
“Vote Less” in Brighton, UK, 2006