Banksy is now a world-famous artist, whose work has sold for hundreds of thousands of pounds. But once, he was just another kid on the streets of Bristol with a can of spray paint in his hands. As a result, some of his earliest work is hidden around the city, and spotting it is an absolute must for fans of his work.
Born in Bristol in 1974, he was involved in the wave of street art that took Bristol by storm in the 1980s. Throughout the following decades, his work has cropped up in London, LA and New York, and of course, in his home town of Bristol.
In 2009, Banksy held a spectacular homecoming, when under complete confidentiality, he overtook Bristol Museum and Art Gallery for an exhibition that saw crowds queueing for hours on end for a glimpse of his work. Then in 2015, he came back to the West Country for his internationally succesful Dismaland exhibition in nearby Weston-super-Mare.
Banksy artworks in Bristol
There are a number of original pieces located throughout the city, although another could pop up at any time! Many of the pieces are controversial and Banksy is well-known for shining a spotlight on social issues and difficult subjects.
The most recent Banksy piece appeared on Vale Street in Totterdown in December 2020. It was called 'Aatchoo!!' and shows and older lady sneezing up England's steepest residential street. The piece has now been removed.
Earlier in 2020, a new piece appeared on Marsh Lane in Barton Hill in time for Valentine's Day, close to the youth club where Banksy spend some of his time as a younger man. It shows a girl firing a catapult full of red flowers onto the side of a house.
Other Banksy artworks you can find in Bristol include; Mild Mild West on Stokes Croft, Well Hung Lover on Park Street, The Girl with the Pierced Eardrum near Bristol Marina and the Grim Reaper in M Shed.
Take a tour
Take our self-guided Banksy walking tour, find the different Banksy locations with A Piece Of…..Banksy! audio tour and app, or join the experts on a street art walking tour to find out more about the man behind the spray can as well as learn about all the up and coming street artists that have been inspired by the man himself. You can even have a go yourself at a graffiti workshop!
You can also download the fantastic Banksy Bristol Trail smartphone app (iPhone and Android versions available), featuring an interactive map which guides you to each of the remaining pieces in Bristol. It's also packed with in-depth features all about him, his work and his formative years in Bristol in the 80/90s street art scene: a must for those who want to delve a little deeper.
In search of more Banksy-themed ideas while you’re in town? Check out our guides to the top Banksy and Street Art Hot Spots across the city and How to have a Banksy-themed Weekend in Bristol.
