Banksy Review

by Francesco Matteuzzi, Marco Maraggi

Rating: 4/5

Told in classic comic-book form, this graphic biography invites a new audience to learn about Banksy—and uses a pitch-perfect medium to convey the artist’s message that art is for the people.

Banksy is arguably the most well-known street artist of all time. But we don’t actually know who he is.

This is just one of many contradictions that are addressed in this enormously compelling graphic biography. When two young Londoners are caught spray-painting graffiti on a city wall, they get to know each other while detained by the police. After they are released, they decide to make a film of Banksy’s life, tracing the arc of his career as they travel through the streets of London.

Readers will learn not only of Banksy’s politically charged art and the causes he championed, but also of its worldwide dissemination, museum exhibitions, and record-breaking auctions.

While readers may not learn Banksy’s true identity, this uniquely graphic form of storytelling communicates the artist’s belief that art is for everyone, speaks to everyone, and is owned by everyone.

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I love art. My day job is being a graphic designer. I love my job. I love all things art. And I especially love the mystery and controversy around Banksy.

I first discovered him while I was in college. And I’ll never forget the day my instructor cancelled our lesson plan to talk about the ultimate art-world prank. When Banksy shredded their own painting when it sold at an auction. I was in the middle of class when it happened, and when my instructor heard, he stopped the lesson to show it to us, and Banksy was all we could talk about the rest of class.

So when I was browsing the bookshop one day, I came across this, and I knew I needed to read it.  I had no idea what it was about, but I wanted to read it. I devoured it in a single sitting too.

I didn’t know what to expect with this one, but I found it enjoyable to read. It basically follows two people who get caught tagging and decide to make a film around Banksy after their release. And we follow the arc of his career and his art. 

I found learning about the history of Banksy enjoyable. We not only get to see the history of his art but also some of the inspiration he pulled for them, or supposedly pulled for them, and then the controversies his art sparked. It was entertaining and informative.

I didn’t care much for the story of the people creating the film. And the ending felt weird, but it also felt like Banksy.

If you enjoy art and graphic novels, I definitely would recommend picking this up!