Banksy Arrives in New York City

No, the artist himself has not arrived in our city. After all, no one knows where or how the enigmatic figure named Banksy even lives. But New York City does now have a new museum that contains the largest collection of works credited to, or inspired by, him. Located at Canal and Broadway, The Banksy Museum displays over 160 works by—arguably—the world’s most famous street artist. These recreate the revolutionary, and often ephemeral, art that the British-born artist has painted on surfaces in London, Bristol, Paris, Venice, Bethlehem, Los Angeles, and beyond. Visitors to the museum can immerse themselves in a truly environmental experience. Beyond the iconic street art, the exhibition also features some of the artist’s studio work, as well as animated visual and video elements. Hazis Vardar, the museum’s founder, also opened one in Paris five years ago. “It is still running,” he says proudly. Why so much time and effort spent on an artist who gave graffiti glitter, has attracted fans all over the world, and yet insists on remaining anonymous? “Banksy is a revolution,” Vardar says, “He’s an artist who speaks about people and always on point.” Adds the new museum’s Executive Director, William Meade, “we...