"Will the Identity of 'Faceless Painter' Banksy Be Revealed... Attention on Authenticity Lawsuit"

Recent Surge in Authenticity Verification Requests... Collectors Ultimately File Lawsuit
"Banksy May Have to Reveal Real Name in Court After All"

There is growing speculation that the identity of Banksy, the British street artist and public graffiti artist famously known as the "faceless artist," may be revealed. This comes amid a recent lawsuit seeking to verify the authenticity of his works.

On the 9th (local time), the UK Guardian reported, "Recently, two London art collectors, including Nikki Katz, took legal action after their request to verify the official print status of Banksy's print 'Monkey Queen' was denied."

Banksy's 2003 work "Monkey Queen" was produced in a total of 750 editions, of which 150 bear his signature. Banksy does not sign all the prints he produces, only some, so as many forgeries have circulated, more collectors are seeking authentication for genuine works.

Banksy's mural preserved in the small suburban city of Borodianka, on the outskirts of Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine [Image source=Yonhap News]

The official authentication body and sales manager for Banksy's works, "Pest Control," receives up to 700 requests for certificates of authenticity each month. Pest Control, a company established by Banksy in 2008, issues certificates of authenticity as numerous forgeries have flooded online markets. Due to the surge in applications, some collectors reportedly wait several years to receive their certificates.

This situation has come to light amid frequent cases of Banksy forgeries being sold online on platforms like eBay disguised as genuine works. Although the exact volume of forgeries in circulation is unclear, it is reported that a significant number of authentic Banksy prints have already been lost or damaged.

Katz and others also inquired with Pest Control about the authenticity but received no response for three years, eventually suing the company for breach of contract. Katz said, "Pest Control is the official verification body for Banksy's works, and I paid them 50 pounds for authentication. They did not respond for three years, and we had no choice but to wait."

He added, "Banksy has ensured that no one other than his company can verify his works, so unlike other artworks, authenticity cannot be confirmed by experts outside Pest Control. I am very disappointed with Banksy."

Banksy's 2003 print "Monkey Queen" [Image source=Yonhap News]

Pest Control stated, "Our authentication process is very strict and sometimes takes a long time," adding, "We have issued thousands of certificates of authenticity to date." However, the Guardian predicted, "If disputes with collectors end up in court, Banksy may be forced to reveal his real name."

Banksy has kept his identity secret for decades since he began his activities in the 1990s. The only known fact about him so far is that he is a white male born in 1974.

At one point, rumors gained traction that Robert Del Naja, the vocalist and rapper of the famous British band Massive Attack, was Banksy, after Banksy's works appeared shortly after Massive Attack's long-term stay in a city for a tour. However, Del Naja clarified, "Banksy is a close friend of mine, and he just came to a few of our shows."

Other speculations have suggested that a British art-related TV presenter or a former public school art teacher might be Banksy, but Banksy's representatives have denied these claims.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.