Banksy’s former agent and photographer has revealed that the elusive artist “never really enjoyed the fame he achieved” due to his need for anonymity, but it’s also a secret that won’t end anytime soon.
Steve Lazarides worked with the low-key street artist from 1997 to 2008 after the Bristol mates met in the late 1990s and discovered they shared a mutual love of graffiti and innovative street art.
The 55-year-old, who previously described those years as “glorious” and a “ride”, is now auctioning off memorabilia from his time with Banksy, from coveted prints and artworks to drawings and even private correspondence with the artist.
More than 170 lots will go under the hammer at Julien’s Auctions in Los Angeles on Thursday, with the highest estimate currently reserved for a stencil of a rat holding a drill, which is expected to fetch up to £150,000.
His print of the now-famous Balloon Girl could also fetch £60,000 when it goes on sale, experts predict.
A print of Banksy’s now-famous Balloon Girl could fetch £60,000 when it goes on sale this week.
A pair of Banksy’s Puma sneakers are among more than 170 lots auctioned in Los Angeles
Banksy’s £10 note with Princess Diana’s face could fetch up to £1,500 under the hammer
Since Banksy became famous with his signature stencil-style “guerrilla” art in public spaces (on walls in London, Brighton, Bristol and even on the West Bank barrier separating Israelis and Palestinians), his works have sold in the hundreds. of thousands of pounds.
He is the world’s most elusive artist: a ‘graffiti guerrilla’ who began his street art 25 years ago and is now an art world darling, his work coveted by collectors and celebrities.
Lazarides believes he understands more than most Banksy’s need to remain anonymous, a status that initially began as “self-preservation” to ensure he wouldn’t be caught by police and sent to prison for what could essentially be seen as vandalism.
In an interview with The mirrorHe said: ‘As the years went by and it got longer, I think anonymity became a big disease.
“Everyone has this figure in their mind, they have a folk hero and he looks different in everyone’s mind.
“He never really got to enjoy the fame he got.”
The couple was so keen to keep Banksy’s secret that they even bought dozens of burner phones, with the artist only communicating using cheap pay-as-you-go phones for each street art job he took on.
At one point, Lazarides claims he bought two new disposable phones every two weeks and changed where he bought them.
Banksy’s identity has been shrouded in secrecy until The Mail on Sunday launched an investigation in 2008, naming Robin Gunningham as the Bristol artist.
When the newspaper published its groundbreaking investigation, Lazarides told a US newspaper that a photograph of Gunningham – taken in Jamaica four years earlier and showing a man kneeling next to an aerosol can – did not show his client.
Steve Lazarides worked with the low-key street artist from 1997 to 2008 after the Bristol mates met in the late 1990s and discovered they shared a mutual love of graffiti and innovative street art.
Banksy’s Laugh Now is among the works going up for auction this week
Banksy’s Love Is In The Air has an estimated price of around £40,000
However, it is still strongly suggested that Mr Gunningham is Banksy and researchers At Queen Mary University of London they even used a geographic profiling statistical technique to prove that it is the one most commonly used by police to catch criminals.
They claim to have tagged him by identifying an obvious pattern between the locations of his art and the addresses he frequently visits in Bristol and London.
Her fans include Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, who commissioned a mural four years ago for their private gallery on their estate in the south of France.
Ahead of this week’s auction, Lazarides speaks only fondly of Banksy, describing him as “probably the best-known artist in the world.”
In a promotional video posted on YouTube, he said: “The first time I heard of Banksy was when we were at a meeting at Sleazenation, I met him and saw his work and it blew me away.”
‘It had a message and it was fun and different. He had fucking balls and put his shit in places no one else was willing to go. I was completely sold.’
Banksy’s works have gone from being considered graffiti and vandalism to raising millions at auction; his most expensive work, Love is in the Bin, sold for £18.6 million in 2021.