A Banksy artwork in Nottingham, England. Reuters
A Banksy artwork in Nottingham, England. Reuters
A Banksy artwork in Nottingham, England. Reuters
A Banksy artwork in Nottingham, England. Reuters

Unauthorised Banksy art exhibition opens in Germany


Simon Rushton
  • English
  • Arabic

An unauthorised exhibition of art by British graffiti artist Banksy will open in Germany on Wednesday, bringing together more than 100 pieces.

The Mystery of Banksy exhibition comes soon after Banksy announced the auction in England of one of his pieces to raise money for National Health Service charities and completed a new work at Reading Prison, near London.
The elusive contemporary artist, whose identity remains a secret, creates works that ask provocative questions, often using public walls to make a statement.

His subjects have included the British government, corporate power and the plight of Palestinians.

His work sells for millions and he has previously criticised the industry around art.
At the same time, he is a master of publicity and knows when to co-operate with industry insiders.

When an unauthorised exhibition comes along, it can be tricky to determine whether Banksy had a backstage hand in matters.
Regardless, his work is loved and admired far beyond the few who get to see an original spray-painted on a wall.

In England this month, a Banksy artwork that depicts a nurse as a superhero doll is being put up for auction to raise money for the UK's National Health Service.

He was also confirmed as the artist behind a new work on a prison wall in Reading.

The exhibition at the German Museum in Munich will be open until May 2. In includes original work, reproduction prints, sculptures and video installations.

See images of Banksy’s art:

  • People take pictures of a new Banksy artwork in Islington, London, in March 2024. Getty Images
    People take pictures of a new Banksy artwork in Islington, London, in March 2024. Getty Images
  • A work by Banksy is removed in Peckham, south-east London, in December 2023. Getty Images
    A work by Banksy is removed in Peckham, south-east London, in December 2023. Getty Images
  • Graffiti created by British artist Banksy under a protective screen on the damaged wall of a residential building in Irpin, Ukraine in April 2023. Getty Images
    Graffiti created by British artist Banksy under a protective screen on the damaged wall of a residential building in Irpin, Ukraine in April 2023. Getty Images
  • An artwork painted on the side of a property in Herne Bay, Kent in March 2023. PA
    An artwork painted on the side of a property in Herne Bay, Kent in March 2023. PA
  • The artwork by street artist Banksy, titled 'Valentine's Day Mascara' on the side of a building in Margate, Kent in February 2023. PA
    The artwork by street artist Banksy, titled 'Valentine's Day Mascara' on the side of a building in Margate, Kent in February 2023. PA
  • A Reveller walks by a graffiti attributed to Banksy as he arrives at Worthy Farm in Somerset during the Glastonbury Festival in June 2022. Reuters
    A Reveller walks by a graffiti attributed to Banksy as he arrives at Worthy Farm in Somerset during the Glastonbury Festival in June 2022. Reuters
  • A Banksy artwork in Nottingham in October 2020. Reuters
    A Banksy artwork in Nottingham in October 2020. Reuters
  • Show me the Monet by Banksy at Sotheby's Galleries in London in October 2020. AFP
    Show me the Monet by Banksy at Sotheby's Galleries in London in October 2020. AFP
  • Banksy's Sunflowers From Petrol Station, inspired by Vincent van Gogh. PA
    Banksy's Sunflowers From Petrol Station, inspired by Vincent van Gogh. PA
  • Banksy captioned the photo of this work Game Changer. Photo: Instagram
    Banksy captioned the photo of this work Game Changer. Photo: Instagram
  • A customised stab-proof vest by street artist Banksy at the Design Museum in London. EPA
    A customised stab-proof vest by street artist Banksy at the Design Museum in London. EPA
  • A Banksy stencil posted on Instagram in June 2020, with a caption asking 'What should we do with the empty plinth in the middle of Bristol?' Photo: Instagram
    A Banksy stencil posted on Instagram in June 2020, with a caption asking 'What should we do with the empty plinth in the middle of Bristol?' Photo: Instagram
  • A Banksy piece inspired by the death of George Floyd and subsequent Black Lives Matter protests. Photo: Instagram
    A Banksy piece inspired by the death of George Floyd and subsequent Black Lives Matter protests. Photo: Instagram
  • Girl with a Pierced Eardrum, in Bristol. Getty
    Girl with a Pierced Eardrum, in Bristol. Getty
  • Banksy released a new piece in his bathroom as he worked from home during the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020. Photo: Instagram
    Banksy released a new piece in his bathroom as he worked from home during the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020. Photo: Instagram
  • A Valentine's Day piece by Banksy appeared in Bristol in February 2020. Reuters
    A Valentine's Day piece by Banksy appeared in Bristol in February 2020. Reuters
  • A Christmas mural by Banksy in Birmingham, December 2019. The piece made a statement about homelessness. Reuters
    A Christmas mural by Banksy in Birmingham, December 2019. The piece made a statement about homelessness. Reuters
  • Banksy's pop-up shop called Gross Domestic Product in Croydon, London in 2019. AFP
    Banksy's pop-up shop called Gross Domestic Product in Croydon, London in 2019. AFP
  • A view of Banksy's migrant child mural, half-submerged in high water in Venice, November 2019. EPA
    A view of Banksy's migrant child mural, half-submerged in high water in Venice, November 2019. EPA
  • Devolved Parliament at Sotheby's auction house in London, featuring chimpanzees as MPs in the House of Commons. EPA
    Devolved Parliament at Sotheby's auction house in London, featuring chimpanzees as MPs in the House of Commons. EPA
  • A Banksy artwork in Marble Arch, London, at the site of an Extinction Rebellion protest camp. EPA
    A Banksy artwork in Marble Arch, London, at the site of an Extinction Rebellion protest camp. EPA
  • Love is in the Bin at the Frieder Burda Museum in Baden-Baden, Germany. EPA
    Love is in the Bin at the Frieder Burda Museum in Baden-Baden, Germany. EPA
  • There is Always Hope. EPA
    There is Always Hope. EPA
  • Season's Greetings (2018) was painted on a garage in Port Talbot, Wales. Getty
    Season's Greetings (2018) was painted on a garage in Port Talbot, Wales. Getty
  • Part of the unauthorised exhibition entitled Banksy, Genius or Vandal? in Madrid, December 2018. EPA
    Part of the unauthorised exhibition entitled Banksy, Genius or Vandal? in Madrid, December 2018. EPA
  • A piece by Banksy, acquired by actor Robin Williams, was among auction items on display in Los Angeles, September 2018. EPA
    A piece by Banksy, acquired by actor Robin Williams, was among auction items on display in Los Angeles, September 2018. EPA
  • A Brexit-inspired mural by Banksy in Dover, south-east England. EPA
    A Brexit-inspired mural by Banksy in Dover, south-east England. EPA
  • A veiled woman in mourning beside the Bataclan concert venue in Paris where 90 people where killed by terrorists in November 2015. EPA
    A veiled woman in mourning beside the Bataclan concert venue in Paris where 90 people where killed by terrorists in November 2015. EPA
  • An artwork attributed to Banksy showing Napoleon's horse rearing, in Paris, June 2018. EPA
    An artwork attributed to Banksy showing Napoleon's horse rearing, in Paris, June 2018. EPA
  • A mural depicting a rat on a popped champagne cork, in Paris, June 2018. EPA
    A mural depicting a rat on a popped champagne cork, in Paris, June 2018. EPA
  • A rat in the inner portion of a clock in New York City, March 2018. EPA
    A rat in the inner portion of a clock in New York City, March 2018. EPA
  • A Banksy mural highlights the imprisonment of Turkish artist and journalist Zehra Dogan, on the Bowery, New York City in February 2019. EPA
    A Banksy mural highlights the imprisonment of Turkish artist and journalist Zehra Dogan, on the Bowery, New York City in February 2019. EPA
  • A Banksy painting appeared on the first day of the 2017 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. EPA
    A Banksy painting appeared on the first day of the 2017 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. EPA
  • Flying Copper on display in Berlin. EPA
    Flying Copper on display in Berlin. EPA
  • The Bridge Farm Primary School where a new mural appeared during half term in Withchurch, England. The mural was a thanks to the school for naming a school wing after Banksy. EPA
    The Bridge Farm Primary School where a new mural appeared during half term in Withchurch, England. The mural was a thanks to the school for naming a school wing after Banksy. EPA
  • The Son of a Migrant from Syria depicting Apple's Steve Jobs in the refugee camp called The Jungle in Calais, France. EPA
    The Son of a Migrant from Syria depicting Apple's Steve Jobs in the refugee camp called The Jungle in Calais, France. EPA
  • Dismaland, a temporary exhibition that opened at a derelict seafront lido in Weston-Super-Mare, England in 2015. Getty
    Dismaland, a temporary exhibition that opened at a derelict seafront lido in Weston-Super-Mare, England in 2015. Getty
  • Bomb Hugger after it was defaced in Hamburg, February 2015. EPA
    Bomb Hugger after it was defaced in Hamburg, February 2015. EPA
  • Banksy appeared to comment on methods used by Britain's intelligence services with this piece in Cheltenham. EPA
    Banksy appeared to comment on methods used by Britain's intelligence services with this piece in Cheltenham. EPA
  • The Twin Towers in Tribeca appeared in New York in 2013. EPA
    The Twin Towers in Tribeca appeared in New York in 2013. EPA
  • A mural by Banksy in Queens, New York. EPA
    A mural by Banksy in Queens, New York. EPA
  • Three years after Hurricane Katrina wrought havoc in the Gulf of Mexico, Banksy created some commemorative pieces in New Orleans, Louisiana. EPA
    Three years after Hurricane Katrina wrought havoc in the Gulf of Mexico, Banksy created some commemorative pieces in New Orleans, Louisiana. EPA
  • Another mural by Banksy in New Orleans. EPA
    Another mural by Banksy in New Orleans. EPA
  • A Banksy in London, May 2008. EPA
    A Banksy in London, May 2008. EPA
  • A piece to mark Queen Elizabeth II's golden jubilee appeared on Clink Street, near London Bridge, in May 2002. EPA
    A piece to mark Queen Elizabeth II's golden jubilee appeared on Clink Street, near London Bridge, in May 2002. EPA