Banksy tours America
The most loved/hated anonymous urban artist of the moment, Banksy, is currently touring North America, spreading his politically-toned outdoor paintings.
In New Orleans, most of his work is related to hurricane Katrina’s past and present consequences. He also left an amazing anti-KKK painting in Alabama.
“I looked out the window of the taxi on the drive into New Orleans and remarked ‘There’s still so much devastation - I can’t believe they haven’t cleaned this mess up’ to which the driver stared at me and said ‘This part of the city wasn’t affected by the hurricane - it’s always looked like this.’
- Banksy
“Three years after Katrina I wanted to highlight the state of the clean-up operation. Only later did it dawn on me that if you choose to do this by drawing all over their stuff, you’re actually slowing down that clean-up operation.”
- Banksy
He’s still out there painting and I can’t wait to see where he goes next. I’ll keep you updated on any other finds so check back later!
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Posted by The Ad Mad on September 3rd, 2008,
on Art + Creativity.
September 3rd, 2008 at 4:24 pm
i LOVE that guy
September 3rd, 2008 at 4:39 pm
lol I like Banksy’s last quote. “Only later did it dawn on me that if you choose to do this by drawing all over their stuff, you’re actually slowing down that clean-up operation”
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:38 pm
I live in Birmingham and the newspaper this morning ran a story about the KKK painting. I was thrilled that Banksy had actually stopped here; and disgusted that the city had painted over his work so quickly.
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:01 pm
COME TO PHILLY PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEE SO I CAN TAKE PHOTOS
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:27 pm
banksy…………………..jeez
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:27 pm
“I will not copy what I see on the simpsons”
If only Seth Mcfarlane had got that memo.
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:27 pm
is this what passes for caustic social commentary?
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:16 pm
Obviously photoshopped
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:28 pm
Don’t worry Banksy, there’s no way you can possibly make New Orleans look worse. My only worry is that they’re too subtle for your typical New Orleans resident to get. I would welcome your paintings in all our American cities.
September 4th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
I, for one, am ecstatic that banksy is lending his art to our city, and chances are that his art is too subtle for the typical human being to get (let’s face it.) There are plenty in New Orleans that can and will appreciate it.
September 5th, 2008 at 1:28 am
Love The Art
September 5th, 2008 at 3:05 am
considering how much his works go for in a gallery, he’s probably putting more value into the big easy than most would suspect vandalism would. go banksy!
September 5th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
You know what I hate? People who are too dumb to catch ANYTHING not blatantly, visually apparent.
September 6th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
i like dem very much but promoting vandalism is never good! wat wud happen if we all broke the law huh?
September 6th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
@Nave
Freedom
September 7th, 2008 at 6:21 am
Is this a Banksy? Same style, kind of…
http://www.faronville.com/2008/08/a-bit-of-foreign-influence/
September 7th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
If everyone broke the same law it would not longer be a law.
September 7th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
Oh man, anti-KKK! He’s really sending a controversial message isn’t he! I enjoy this guy’s art, but come on. It’s like being anti-nazi, or anti-thingswedon’tlike, that’s so stupid.
September 7th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
Michael: I see where you’re going, but the interesting thing here is how he’s saying that. And I think that’s why Banksy is so famous, he always finds creative ways to get the message through.
September 7th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
DUDE, hes in canada too mang..
lawl, he was in bc earlier this year, while there was still snow on the ground, they are all over downtown
September 7th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
i like the kkk one funny
http://s1.gladiatus.us/game/c.php?uid=93991
September 7th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
OUCH! Some very imaginative and clever work here. The KKK is quite good.
September 8th, 2008 at 12:22 am
one mans subtle is an others blatant. His works just blast out their meaning to me….and I love it!
September 8th, 2008 at 2:21 am
Whether or not you agree with breaking of a minor law, you cannot dispute that what this artist produces is, in fact, art. It is originally produced, displayed where the public can enjoy it, and expresses an idea or theme to be interpreted by the observer. Art! beautiful!
September 8th, 2008 at 9:37 am
terrific
September 8th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
@ Nave
Should we be promoting such horrible spelling and grammar habits?
You sound pathetic, even if you had a valid point it would be hard to agree with you.
September 8th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
@farquat,
that is definitely a banksy.
September 8th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
I live in New Orleans and I have never seen any of his work…..where is it???
September 9th, 2008 at 5:36 am
LONDON! THATS WHERE ITS FROM MATE
September 10th, 2008 at 9:56 am
He’s a pretentious wanker, all the people I’ve spoken to who claim to like him can’t give me a good reason - it’s probably down to liking fashionable artists. Mindless drivel.
September 11th, 2008 at 5:21 am
I have a headache
September 15th, 2008 at 3:09 am
I like Banksy cause he makes neato stencil graf., duh what other “good reason” would you require ror?
September 20th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Art is like music.You either like it,or you don’t.And if you do like it,you don’t need a reason.you just do.
Peace
September 25th, 2008 at 3:00 am
@ror:
how can you know that someone who you have never met, who rarely makes public statements, and to this day remains (semi-)anonymous is pretentious? and how do the opinions of the people who like his art prove this?