A new investigative report has claimed to reveal the real identity of the elusive street artist Banksy, whose anonymity has fuelled speculation for decades.
According to an in-depth investigation by Reuters journalists, the influential Bristol-based artist is Robin Gunningham, who is also said to have later changed his name to David Jones. The report states that its findings establish “beyond dispute” the person behind the globally recognised pseudonym.
The investigation traced several pieces of evidence, including a trip to Ukraine in 2022 that Gunningham reportedly took with musician Robert Del Naja of Massive Attack. Del Naja has long been linked to rumours surrounding Banksy’s identity, with the two believed to share a close friendship.
The report also references photographs posted by former associates and a handwritten confession note connected to an arrest in New York in 2000.
The findings echo claims first reported by The Mail on Sunday in 2008, which also named Gunningham as the artist behind Banksy. Several former classmates from Bristol Cathedral School had previously supported that claim.
Banksy’s lawyer, Mark Stephens, responded to the Reuters report by stating that his client does not accept many of the details presented in the investigation. Stephens argued that revealing the artist’s identity would violate his privacy and potentially place him in danger.
“Working anonymously or under a pseudonym serves vital societal interests,” Stephens said. “It protects freedom of expression by allowing creators to speak truth to power without fear of retaliation, censorship or persecution.”
Reuters, however, maintained that the public has a significant interest in understanding the identity of a figure whose work has had a lasting influence on contemporary culture, the art world and global political discourse.
Over the years, numerous attempts have been made to uncover Banksy’s identity. A BBC radio interview from 2003 resurfaced two decades later, in which the artist appeared to confirm that his first name was Robbie. Around the same time, a report by The Independent referred to him as Robert Banks.
The mystery surrounding the artist has also surfaced in legal matters. In 2024, a dispute over the authenticity of a Banksy print raised the possibility that the artist might have been required to reveal his identity in court.
Despite the speculation, Banksy continues to produce provocative works.
Among his recent pieces was a mural depicting a judge striking a protester with a gavel outside the Royal Courts of Justice, widely interpreted as commentary on the arrest of supporters of Palestine Action. The artwork was removed shortly after appearing.
The artist also drew attention at Glastonbury 2024 when a dummy inflatable boat carrying migrant figures was launched into the crowd during a performance by the band IDLES, prompting criticism from then Home Secretary James Cleverly.
