Banksy Hits Toronto With Some Fine Results

Written By Toni

Banksy is one of the most subversive and politically controversial graffiti artists. He’s a tremendously influential figure whose identity has remained concealed for years; many believe his anonymity was a very successful marketing ploy. Banksy used his anonymity to attract attention and became internationally renown.

Last week in Toronto he debuted his film, “Exit Through The Gift Shop.” A documentary that focuses on thrift shop owner Thierry Guetta turned film maker turned street artist who believes every moment of his life led him to capture the secretive world of street artists. Guetta has documented street artist such as Space Invader, Shepard Fairey and the very mysterious Banksy. The graffiti guerilla appears in the film in disguise to converse about his graffiti artworks.

That being said a series of Banksy’s works have been documented across the city including his famous rats, a man in a suite holding a sign that says, “will work for idiots” and a security guard walking a pink balloon dog.

CBC reported that Banksy’s publicist confirmed that the pieces around Toronto are indeed the real thing. What’s left of Banksy’s graffiti artwork can be found Downtown, Toronto. The pieces are vanishing quickly or being altered, there are currently two fully intact Banksy pieces left of the seven that arrived in Toronto last weekend.

Don’t forget to check out the trailer for Exit Through The Gift Shop below.



I also included some painted over and modified pieces.



As pictured above Toronto's graffitist don't seem to be warming up to Banksy's pieces.