Banksy is an anonymous British street artist, political activist, and film director, believed to have been born around 1974 in or near Bristol, England. His real identity remains unknown and is the subject of much speculation. Banksy rose to prominence in the late 1990s for his provocative stenciled graffiti art, which often combines dark humor with political and social commentary. His works have appeared on streets, walls, and bridges worldwide, and he is known for his distinctive stencil technique

. Banksy’s art frequently features iconic images such as rats and policemen, and he has expanded his practice to include installations and performance art. He began as a freehand graffiti artist in the early 1990s in Bristol and started using stencils around 2000 to increase the speed of his work. Banksy is also known for surprising public art installations in major museums without authorization

. There are several theories about Banksy’s true identity. One of the most credible theories suggests he is Robin Gunningham, a former pupil of Bristol Cathedral School born in 1974. Another popular theory is that Banksy might be Robert Del Naja, a founding member of the band Massive Attack and former graffiti artist, due to stylistic similarities and overlapping timelines of their activities. Some speculate Banksy could be a collective of artists rather than a single individual

. Banksy directed the 2010 documentary Exit Through the Gift Shop , which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. Despite his global fame, Banksy maintains anonymity and rarely sells reproductions of his street art, though some pieces are sold through an agency he created called Pest Control