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Banksy’s True Identity Confirmed as David Jones, Formerly Robin Gunningham

A Reuters investigation traces the world-famous street artist from Bristol, revealing a legal name change and collaboration with Massive Attack’s Robert Del Naja

In 2008, the Mail on Sunday correctly reported that Banksy, the world’s most renowned street artist, was Robin Gunningham, born in 1973 in Bristol. Since then, the man, likely to protect the anonymity that fueled the legendary mystique of his stencil and spray-painted works, has legally changed his name to David Jones—one of the most common names in Britain and the given name of David Bowie, whose Ziggy Stardust persona inspired Banksy’s portrait of Queen Elizabeth.

A Reuters investigation has cross-referenced every known detail about the popular artist, from photographs and videos where Banksy appears—even with his face covered—to new decisive documents, including records of a 2000 arrest in New York.

Journalists Simon Gardner, James Pearson, and Blake Morrison began their inquiry from a Banksy piece created in Ukraine in 2022, following every trace left by the artist. Their research also reached a further conclusion: Robert Del Naja, the frontman of Massive Attack and previously a strong suspect for being Banksy, is confirmed to be a collaborator. He may have co-created some works with the street artist.

This investigation sheds new light on both Banksy’s personal history and the creative network surrounding his globally recognized art.

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