Banksy is the pseudonym of an anonymous graffiti artist, painter, political activist and one of Time Magazine's most influential people in the world. Little is known about Banksys' actual background, but according to Tristan Manco in his book Home Sweet Home, Banksy was born in Bristol, England in the early 1970s. Known for his contempt for the government and for calling graffiti vandalism, he displays his art on public surfaces, such as billboards and walls, and has even built physical props. Banks' distinctive stenciling style typically embodies humorous images often paired with slogans that carry anti-war, anti-capitalism, and anti-establishment themes. What is rare for most artists is that Banksy does not sell photographs or reproductions of his works, but art auctioneers have been known to sell his street art on site for large sums of money. In 2005, Banksy infiltrated many museums in New York, such as the Museum of Modern Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Brooklyn Museum, and the American Museum of Natural History, and exhibited his works among artworks remarkable. Banksy's distinctive satirical graffiti style mixed with his anonymous rebellious antics give him an invaluable buzz that is rare among today's graffiti artists. It all started in the 1990s in Bristol, England, when Banksy started as a freehand graffiti artist. With the help of two other graffiti artists, Kato and Tes, they formed the Bristols DryBreadZ Crew (DBZ). Their inspiration came from the local hip hop and breakdancing community and they eventually gained notoriety and size. In the late 1990s, Bristol became too small for Banksy, who was beginning to become a street art sensation. Concerned about his anonymity, as graffiti is highly illegal, he fled to London...... middle of paper ...... makes almost everyone very uncomfortable. He does not ignore the limits; he crosses them to prove their uselessness. » Whether he's infiltrating notorious museums with his work or paying homage to his own art critics, Banksy as an artist will never fail to surprise and challenge society's perspectives. Works Cited Smith, Roberta. “Mystery Man, Painting the Town.” " The New York Times. The New York Times, October 30, 2013. Web. May 7, 2014. " History, travel, arts, science, people, places | Smithsonian." The story behind Banksy. The Smithsonian Magazine, nd Web. May 7, 2014. Banksy and Oscar Van Gelderen. Wall and Piece. Amsterdam: Lebowski, 2009. Print « 25 things you didn't know about Banksy | Complex. " Complex.com. Np, nd Web. May 7, 2014. "The Banksy Paradox: The 7 Facets of the Most Infamous Street Artist | Urbanist." WebUrbanist RSS. Np, nd Web. May 7 2014.