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    23 Key Facts You Need To Know About Banksy

    The low-down on the elusive Bristol artist.

    1. He was behind a famous hoax in 2004, where Photoshopped copies of Paris Hilton's album were distributed in HMV shops.

    2. The same year, he created and distributed fake £10 notes.

    3. Damien Hirst owns some of his work. As does Christina Aguilera and Angelina Jolie.

    4. This piece was commissioned by Bono.

    5. He's from Bristol and his iconic stencil style was inspired by a fellow Bristolian.

    6. Though he initially drew freehand, he began stencilling seriously in 2001. This piece is from 2002.

    7. He has had 6 exhibitions since 2002.

    8. The highest ever price for a Banksy work at auction was over £102,000 for his piece "Bombing Middle England".

    9. You can see Banksy artworks in the background of Children of Men.

    10. Sometimes he edits his own paintings.

    11. He visited New Orleans in August 2008, marking the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

    12. He also painted several pieces in Bethlehem and the West Bank.

    13. He designed the cover of Blur's Think Tank.

    14. He was nominated for an Oscar for his 2010 documentary Exit Through The Gift Shop.

    15. He illustrated the opening credits to The Simpsons in 2010.

    16. He designed idents for Nickelodeon in 2005.

    View this video on YouTube

    17. In 2007, a photo purporting to be of Banksy was released.

    18. Simon Hattenstone from The Guardian interviewed Banksy face to face in 2003.

    19. He's conflicted about his success.

    20. He is planning a return to sculpture.

    21. 27 Banksy works to date have been destroyed or damaged.

    22. He is in New York for the month of October, as part of his new show Better Out Than In.

    23. He aims to create a art work every day for the duration of the month. Like this.

    Beautiful new Banksy pays tribute to the Twin Towers. h/t @michaelhayes

    Adrian Carrasquillo

    @RealAdrianC

    Beautiful new Banksy pays tribute to the Twin Towers. h/t @michaelhayes

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