Why Banksy chose Glasgow to reveal secrets of his artwork

The show called 'Cut and Run' opens on Sunday

Banksy girl with balloon painting
Author: Rob WallerPublished 15th Jun 2023
Last updated 15th Jun 2023

Bansky, the world-famous graffiti artist, has chosen Glasgow to host an exhibition where he'll reveal some of the secrets of his iconic and polemical artworks.

The show called CUT & RUN is being hosted at the Gallery of Modern Art on Queen Street and will include some of the stencils used to create his most famous pictures.

Spanning from 1998 to the present day, the artist calls it ‘25 years card labour.’

“I’ve kept these stencils hidden away for years, mindful they could be used as evidence in a charge of criminal damage," says Banksy.

"But that moment seems to have passed, so now I’m exhibiting them in a gallery as works of art.

"I’m not sure which is the greater crime.”

Cone fan

In a welcome message Banksy reveals his reason for choosing Glasgow, saying he was inspired by the traffic cone often seen on the head of the statue of the Duke of Wellington outside the gallery.

He says it's his favourite work of art in the UK.

The show includes authentic artefacts, ephemera and the artist’s actual toilet.

Banksy's famous - and valuable - paintings

Brighton Banksy artwork auctioned off by Robbie Williams

Three of Banksy's most recognisable artworks from Robbie Williams's collection were up for auction last spring. The pieces - Girl With Balloon, Kissing Coppers and Vandalised Oils (Choppers) - were up for sale in the first edition of Sotheby's The Now Evening Auction in London on 2nd March.

Banksy pledges £10m for Reading Prison arts hub campaign

Banksy offered to raise millions of pounds to boost a bid to transform Reading prison which once held Oscar Wilde into an arts centre. Campaigners hope the move will prevent the Grade-II listed HMP Reading from being sold to housing developers.

Potential new Banksy artwork appears inspired by speed camera 'moon' incident

A potential art piece by renowned graffiti artist Banksy appeared inspired by a 'mooning' incident with a speed camera. Terminally ill Darrell Meekcom bore his backside to the speed camera in Kidderminster as part of a bucket list he had drawn up. However, Mr Meekcom was arrested by police soon after 'mooning' the speed camera van. It was later revealed that the piece was painted by Glasgow-based artist The Rebel Bear, who has been dubbed the 'Scottish Banksy'.

Banksy sells for record-breaking £18.5 million

Banksy artwork 'Love Is In The Bin' was sold for a record-breaking £18.5 million. That's more than 18 times what it sold for three years ago - when it went viral for self-shredding immediately after the sale in London.

Banksy hospital artwork raises £14.4m at auction for NHS

A Banksy painting depicting a young boy playing with a nurse doll raised £14.4 million for NHS charities after being sold at auction. The painting appeared in a foyer at Southampton General Hospital during the first wave of the pandemic.

'Aachoo' - Banksy confirms he IS behind new Bristol mural

Banksy laid claim to a new mural in Bristol in December 2020. It shows an elderly woman sneezing out her teeth on the side of a Totterdown house - he captioned the painting "aachoo". The subject, wearing a head scarf, is seen dropping her walking stick:

The show will run for three months and open all night at weekends, and there is the possibility of a follow-up tour.

Tickets for CUT & RUN will be on sale from Thursday 15 June, with first public admission on Sunday 18th June.

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