After years of anonymity, the renowned street artist Banksy has been revealed to be Robin Gunningham, operating under the alias David Jones, according to a comprehensive investigation by Reuters.
The discovery unveils that Banksy, a 61-year-old from Bristol, collaborated with a well-known painting partner on his iconic murals, debunking the myth of his solitary artistic endeavors.
The investigation, dubbed ‘In Search of Banksy,’ involved interviews with insiders and experts, as well as the examination of sealed documents and police records, shedding light on Banksy’s movements, including a trip to Ukraine in 2022 to create one of his notable pieces.
During his time in Ukraine, Banksy, alongside photographer Giles Duley, was observed entering the country on October 28, 2022, coinciding with the arrival and departure of Robert Del Naja, a member of Massive Attack.
It is believed that Banksy and Robert shared a close relationship, with Banksy acknowledging the musician as an early influence on his work in the introduction for “3D and the Art of Massive Attack.”
Although speculation had previously linked Robert Del Naja to Banksy, the investigation confirmed that Banksy, born as Robin Gunningham, took on the name David Jones, with Robert occasionally collaborating as a secret painting partner.
The mystery surrounding Banksy’s identity was maintained to safeguard his privacy, according to his legal representative Mark Stephens, who neither confirmed nor denied the revelations, urging Reuters to refrain from publishing further details.
Robin Gunningham’s association with Banksy was initially uncovered in 2008 by a Mail On Sunday investigation that identified him as a Bristol native with a background in street art.
Originating from Bristol in 1974, Banksy rose to fame during the street art movement of the 1980s before expanding his influence to major cities like London, LA, and New York. Despite his estimated wealth of $50 million, Banksy directs much of his earnings towards charitable causes, leveraging his success to support various philanthropic endeavors.
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