Banksy could be forced to reveal his real name in court

Banksy could be forced to reveal his real name if a legal tussle over the authenticity of one of his prints winds up in court.  Two art collectors are taking legal action against the secretive artist’s company Pest Control, saying that the organisation has refused to confirm the authenticity of the piece Monkey Queen, in which a jewelled primate wears a royal crown against a red, white and blue backdrop.  Nicky Katz and Ray Howse claim that they have pursued Pest Control for three years to secure the official confirmation that the piece was made by Banksy, without which its value would be substantially undermined.  Advertisement If the dispute were to make it to court, the artist could be forced to disclose his real identity.  Banksy’s 2003 Turf War show. Credit: Alan Denney/BBC Sounds Speculation about the graffiti artist’s real name has been rife ever since he first rose to prominence in the early 2000s, with Massive Attack’s Robert Del Naja and Gorillaz’ Jamie Hewlett often being put in the frame.  However, late last year, a long-lost interview that the artist did with the BBC seemed to uncover new information.  A recording emerged of an interview that Banksy conducted in...