UK4 min(s) read
Published 12:01 19 Mar 2026 GMT
Man rumored to be hidden street artist Banksy breaks silence after being 'uncovered'
A man who has repeatedly been mistaken for Banksy has broken his silence after new claims surfaced that the artist’s identity had been uncovered.
The renewed frenzy follows a major Reuters investigation, which reported that the elusive artist could be Robin Gunningham, a Bristol-born graffiti artist whose name has circulated for years.
Despite that, George Georgiou, a North London builder who has often been mistaken for the anonymous figure, says he has had enough of being pulled into the mystery.
"I'm not Banksy"
Georgiou has long been linked to the anonymous artist after being photographed near several of Banksy’s works, but he has firmly denied any connection.
“I’m not Banksy... It's really annoying, it's ridiculous, and it's disturbing. The first day, it was a laugh. It's a bit of an old joke now,” he told the Daily Mail.
He explained that the speculation has become a constant annoyance in his day-to-day life.
"It's just the day-to-day, every five minutes you pick up the bloody phone and it's just someone having a giggle," he said. "That's all it is. It's all harmless stuff, but when you're trying to get on with your life, it's just really annoying. It's just a pain in the butt."
He also dismissed comparisons to a widely circulated image believed to show the artist, saying: "Not really! The only nice thing is that they think I look like I'm 51."
Georgiou urged people to drop the theory, blasting: "Grow up. Get a life. If Banksy were to be found, he wouldn't be standing there.
"I'm sure he is well enough endowed not to have to go there doing building work. He runs in, does what he does and then sods off and disappears. That's why no one knows who he is," he added.
Georgiou even joked that he wished the rumors were true, as then "no one would know who the f*** I am".
Investigation Points To Long-Rumored Identity
While Georgiou distances himself from the speculation, Reuters’ recent investigation claims to have identified Banksy as Robin Gunningham, a graffiti artist born in Bristol in 1973.
According to the report, Gunningham is believed to have later changed his name to David Jones, a move that may have helped keep the secrecy around his identity.
The same name has previously popped up in a 2008 Mail on Sunday report that alleged it had come close to unmasking the artist.
Investigators linked the suspected artist to travel in Ukraine in 2022, around the same time new Banksy works appeared in the war-torn region.
Witnesses described artworks being created within minutes by masked individuals using stencils and spray paint.
Mystery Remains Despite Decades of Clues
Banksy has kept his identity hidden since emerging from the Bristol graffiti scene in the 1990s, going on to become one of the most famous street artists in the world.
Over the years, multiple names have been put forward, including Robert Del Naja, a member of the band Massive Attack, and even TV presenter Neil Buchanan, both of whom have denied the rumors.
In one resurfaced interview, Banksy reportedly confirmed his name was "Robbie", according to BBC News.
Despite the constant speculation, those close to the artist have continued to shut down any definitive claims.
His lawyer, Mark Stephens, said the artist "does not accept that many of the details contained within your enquiry are correct."
He also defended Banksy’s anonymity, explaining: “[Working] anonymously or under a pseudonym serves vital societal interests.
"It protects freedom of expression by allowing creators to speak truth to power without fear of retaliation, censorship or persecution - particularly when addressing sensitive issues such as politics, religion or social justice," he added.