The BBC has found an old interview with Banksy, never broadcast in its entirety, which appears to reveal the enigmatic British artist’s first name: “Robbie”.
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In this 2003 interview, unearthed on Tuesday for a special episode of The Banksy Story podcast, a BBC journalist asks the graffiti artist if his name is “Robert Banks,” to which the artist replies, “It is.” Robbie.”
This is one of the few radio interviews of this world-famous artist, who has concealed his identity since the beginning of his career and whose works are sold for tens of millions of euros.
This mystery has sparked much speculation and the first names Robin, Robert and even Robbie have been mentioned.
Nigel Wrench, a former BBC culture journalist, interviewed the twenty-year-old artist in July 2003 at the opening of his Turf War exhibition in London.
The interview was not broadcast in full at this time. But almost 20 years later, when the journalist heard the podcast about Banksy, he remembered his interview with the graffiti artist and found the entire recording on a CD he had kept at home.
Banksy also compares his graffiti to “quick” meals that “need to be microwaved” and believes he has no need to apologize for his stenciled works in public spaces without permission.
When asked about the illegality of his works, the graffiti artist, who is committed to opposing Brexit, defending migrants and supporting Ukrainians in the war against Russia, answers with the advice: “Get out of your house!” Dosome confirms Viel Fun!”
You can also hear another interview that Banksy gave to American radio NPR in 2005 on the British public audiovisual group’s podcast.
“We assume you are who you say you are, but how can we be sure?” asks the host, to which his guest replies, “Oh, you can’t guarantee that.”
A legal dispute between Banksy and the company Full Color Black (FCB), which sells greeting cards inspired by the artist’s stencils, could soon force him to reveal his name to the public.
Full Color Black sued the graffiti artist and the company that identifies his works, Pest Control, for defamation after the artist expressed outrage on Instagram over the similarity to his works.