Banksy Caught In The Act: Photographer Shares Unseen Photos Of The Artist At Work

By Lucía Tedesco via El Planteo

A photographer from Bristol (United Kingdom) shared previously unseen photos of street artist Banksy, taken 20 years ago at a New Year's Eve party in Málaga, Spain. The recently revealed photographs show the artist painting his largest work, a 17-ton train car now valued at nearly $2 million.

The photographer, who has chosen to remain anonymous, recounted that at the time, Banksy was relatively unknown, though his work was already gaining notoriety in certain circles. "I used to spend a lot of time in Bristol," he commented according to High Times.

The photos were taken in the early hours during the party in Málaga. The photographer remembers the moment clearly: "We were at the party and saw this guy painting —the three of us just turned to each other and said it’s got to be Banksy! Little did we know at the time he would go on to become one of the most famous artists in the world."

Are Banksy's Photos In Spain Real?

The authenticity of the photographs has been confirmed by Banksy's studio, Pest Control, and they match a well-known piece by the artist. The train car, known as The Turbozone Truck, was part of a tour that took the artwork from Europe to South America as part of the Turbozone Cinderella show. This piece also appears in Banksy's official book, "Wall and Piece," published in 2006.

Banksy's identity has been the subject of speculation for years. Names like Robert Del Naja, Robin Gunningham and Neil Buchanan have been linked to the artist, with Gunningham being one of the most accepted theories about his identity, according to the BBC. Despite multiple attempts to unmask him, he has managed to maintain his anonymity, which has increased the value of his works.

Banksy And Cannabis

In 2020, Banksy surprised the world again with a permanent installation in a cannabis dispensary in Toronto, Ontario. The store, operated by Tokyo Smoke, a subsidiary of Canopy Growth Corp., features an exclusive collection of Banksy's art, including previously unseen works.

In fact, his work "Crimewatch UK," which he illegally hung in the "Tate Britain" (formerly known as the National Gallery of British Art) in 2003, is inspired by cannabis resin or hashish, a common product found in the United Kingdom and Europe. The description next to the painting read: "This new acquisition is a beautiful example of the neo post-idiotic style. Little is known about Banksy whose work is inspired by cannabis resin and daytime television."

But that’s not all. The work, which showed a serene and peaceful landscape covered with police tape, turned out to be, in itself, a practical joke by the artist: after a few hours, the painting crashed to the ground, revealing the trick.

Photo by Miguel Discart, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons // Edited in Canva by El Planteo.

This article is from an external unpaid contributor. It does not represent Benzinga's reporting and has not been edited for content or accuracy.