Banksy exhibition curator hopes Regent Street display becomes permanent fixture

The curator of the world’s largest Banksy exhibition says he hopes the newly opened Regents Street display becomes a permanent fixture in London.

The Art of Banksy, which showcases 150 pieces including prints, canvases and unique works from the anonymous street artist has officially opened and will run till January 21 2024.

Some of the works on display include his most famous pieces including Girl With Balloon, Flower Thrower and Rude Copper.

These are presented alongside “hand drawn sketches and personal works that Banksy created for friends, associates and lovers”.

The exhibition also focuses on Banksy’s Dismaland, The Walled Off Hotel in Bethlehem and recent artworks acknowledging the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Michel Boersma, curator of Art of Banksy says they hope to stay at Regents Street for years to come.

Speaking at the opening Mr Boersma said: “A museum should be doing a Banksy exhibition and they’re not.

“For the last seven years we’ve been putting together and working with collectors who have this beautiful art and want to show it to the people.

“One thing that’s really exciting is we have the Mona Lisa. It’s a piece that was made in 2003. It has been living in the house of a very famous Hollywood actor, a friend of Banksy.

“In 2022 he gave it back to Banksy and he made a whole new piece with it. It got sold to one of the collectors we work with earlier this year.

“It’s my new favourite piece. The art world didn’t know it existed till now.”

Banksy’s Valentine’s Day mascara mural that appeared in Margate in February is also featured at the entrance.

Banksy rose to fame by creating stencilled designs around his home city of Bristol in the early 1990s. Despite being famous worldwide his identity is still unknown.

The Art of Banksy is open at 84-86 Regent Street till January 21 2024. More details and tickets here.