Banksy is a famously anonymous artist. No one knows his identity. Or at least, they might not have, until now.
As reported by E! News, Banksy's real name might have just been leaked after an investigative report went into fine detail about his life. But several of his associates have refuted the claim.
On March 13, Reuters said that they took off Banksy's mask and named him as Robin Gunningham, of Bristol, England. But they also added that he changed his name to David Jones in 2008. They described the mammoth task of finding Banksy as akin to a "treasure hunt."
However, several people tied to Banksy have said they might have missed the mark. But, in typical Banksy fashion, it wasn't him who responded. Banksy's lawyer Mark Stephens said that Banksy "does not accept that many of the details contained within [Reuters'] inquiry are correct". He also added that there were some ethical concerns with revealing any name that could be associated with Banksy in the first place. "[Working] anonymously or under a pseudonym serves vital societal interests... [Banksy] has been subjected to fixated, threatening and extremist behavior."
He added that anonymity is especially important when "addressing sensitive issues such as politics, religion, or social justice."
While it sure is interesting to get a look at Banksy's real life, we do think it kind of ruins the magic.
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What Does Banksy's Latest Piece Look Like?
Banksy is known for being everywhere all at once. His pieces pop up all across the world, practically all the time. Reuters said that the artwork that helped track Banksy down was from some of his work in Ukraine after the start of the war there.
But his latest piece was a little closer to home. According to Smithsonian Magazine, just before Christmas 2025, two murals of children gazing up in the sky mysteriously appeared in London. They are depicted in winter clothing, lying on their backs. The murals appeared in two places. One was painted above a row of garages on Queen's Mews, in western London. And the other was painted outside the Centre Point tower, in central London.
We can't wait to see more of his pieces show up across the world!
