Reuters says it had identified real name of artist Banksy
Journalists from the international news agency Reuters said that during a multi-year investigation they were able to establish the identity of the street artist known under the pseudonym Banksy. According to them, he now uses the name David Jones, while he was previously known as Robin Gunningham.
What name could Banksy have?
According to Reuters, Banksy may be called David Jones. The name allegedly appeared in the artist's documents after he changed his name several years ago. Before that, as noted in the investigation, he used the name Robin Gunningham.
To prepare the material, the journalists spoke with more than a dozen insiders and experts. Although none of them directly confirmed the identity of the artist, the interlocutors shared details of his life and creative work.
In addition, the journalists analyzed photographs of the artist, as well as previously unpublished court documents and police reports related to his detention at the beginning of his career in the United States. The materials also mention details of the artist's trip to Ukraine in 2022.
Reaction of the artist's lawyer
The journalists sent the results of the investigation to Banksy himself, but did not receive a response. His lawyer, Mark Stevens, noted in a letter to Reuters that he disagreed with many of the details set out in the journalists' request. At the same time, he did not confirm or deny the published information.
According to the lawyer, the publication of such data could violate the artist's privacy, harm his creative work and pose a threat to him.
Attempts to identify Banksy
There have been attempts to identify Banksy for many years. In particular, in 2008, the British newspaper The Mail on Sunday, after its own investigation, suggested that the artist's name was Robin Gunningham. Also in 2023, the BBC released an archived radio interview with Banksy, recorded in 2003 before his first major exhibition in London. In it, the artist gave his name for the only time known, saying: "I'm Robbie."
As previously reported, at the end of last year, a new mural by Banksy appeared in London, alluding to Christmas and homeless children.