Come with us to this super-exciting, one-in-a-lifetime event, this Saturday April 8!

Banksy is an anonymous street artist and political activist whose identity is still unknown, and who is thought to have been born in the 1970s in Bristol, England. This is assuming we are talking about an individual, but Banksy may also be a collective! (So, let’s use the gender neutral “they” + verbs in the singular). 

Banksy came to prominence as a freehand graffiti artist in 1993 and is renowned for their anti-authoritarian art, which merges graffiti with installations and performance work. Provocative and mysterious, they is well known for the iconic 2006 "Girl with Balloon" mural –and for the 2018 incident at a Sotheby's auction in London, in which a canvas version of this mural self-shred after selling for $1.4 million! Other attention-grabbing Banksy moments include their creation of the 2015 apocalyptic theme park Dismaland, and their recent artwork in Ukraine.

“Banksy was here” is an impressive 360º multimedia installation of 30,000 square feet, encompassing over 80 original works, sculptures, installations, videos, and photos including the now classics of the artist. These pieces come from private collections and are certified authentic. The exhibition is “unauthorized” because Banksy does not authorize any exhibition of their works. 

Tickets are timed for entry (we are aiming for 3:00pm). The visit lasts approximately 60 to 80 minutes, and includes:

• a free audio guide through your phone, so if you want to access it, please bring your own pair of headphones. 

• an 11-minute animation taking you through the history of the artist’s life (what we know of it, anyway), politics, and major projects, all of which will be explored later in the exhibit. 

• theatrically staged rooms, recreations of underground tunnels and concrete bunkers commonly used by graffiti artists.

• a salon with virtual reality goggles that take viewers through an animated re-creation of the back alleys of Bristol where Banksy developed their art (about 10 minutes long)

Photos and recordings are allowed, provided there is no flash nor disturbing other visitors.

If you would like to join us, please email Lidia (lleon@upenn.edu ) and bring $14 to Jessica at the House Office (EH 112) by Wednesday, April 5 at 4pm. Tickets are $28.90 for students, but we can cover half the cost ? for the first 5 students to reply and bring their $14 to Jess. (Please, no cancelling!). If for any reason you really want to go but you're unable to make the payment, let Jessica know, and we can work it out.

We will be leaving from KCECH at 2 pm. Meet us at the main entrance hall. From there, we will walk to the bus stop and take SEPTA (fare provided by us) to Fashion District Philadelphia, in Center City (901 Market St Suite 1150).