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How Banksy Saved Art History
Kelly Grovier
£25.00
A new take on the history of art – from da Vinci to Warhol – as reinterpreted and ultimately reinforced by the international phenomenon that is Banksy
See InsideOverview
Few would dispute that Banksy is the most famous urban artist in the world today. That he is also one of the most perceptive art historians of our age might come as a surprise to many. But the myriad memorable works he has created over the past thirty years constitute an audacious commentary on the history of image-making – a captivating critique waiting to be pieced together.
Armed with little more than stencils, spray paint and an anonymizing cloak of after-hours darkness, Banksy has forged an alluring identity for himself as an incorrigible prankster who doesn’t embrace tradition but shreds it. What actually illuminates Banksy’s audacious murals, impromptu urban sculptures and vandalized paintings, however, is a profound understanding of the story of art. Banksy recasts masterpieces as powerful comments on contemporary issues: climate change, consumerism and the struggle for peace, and reveals these works to be surprisingly elastic, resilient and relevant.
In this fully illustrated and entertaining exploration, bestselling author Kelly Grovier traces art history through Banksy’s lens, presenting many of his most recognizable works: from his droll lampooning of the Lascaux cave paintings to his reinvention of Monet’s enchanting water-lily pond, a reboot of Géricault’s tragic gut-wrenching vision to Vermeer’s girl now instilled with street cred, everyone’s genius is grist for his unmerciful mill. Far from being diminished in their significance, however, the works that Banksy ruthlessly parodies are ultimately refurbished by the ordeal. Banksy’s iconoclastic works force us to rethink our affection for, and appreciation of, great works of art that define cultural history.
Armed with little more than stencils, spray paint and an anonymizing cloak of after-hours darkness, Banksy has forged an alluring identity for himself as an incorrigible prankster who doesn’t embrace tradition but shreds it. What actually illuminates Banksy’s audacious murals, impromptu urban sculptures and vandalized paintings, however, is a profound understanding of the story of art. Banksy recasts masterpieces as powerful comments on contemporary issues: climate change, consumerism and the struggle for peace, and reveals these works to be surprisingly elastic, resilient and relevant.
In this fully illustrated and entertaining exploration, bestselling author Kelly Grovier traces art history through Banksy’s lens, presenting many of his most recognizable works: from his droll lampooning of the Lascaux cave paintings to his reinvention of Monet’s enchanting water-lily pond, a reboot of Géricault’s tragic gut-wrenching vision to Vermeer’s girl now instilled with street cred, everyone’s genius is grist for his unmerciful mill. Far from being diminished in their significance, however, the works that Banksy ruthlessly parodies are ultimately refurbished by the ordeal. Banksy’s iconoclastic works force us to rethink our affection for, and appreciation of, great works of art that define cultural history.
Reviews
'Grovier’s book reframes [Banksy’s] works in a new light. Inextricably linked to Da Vinci, Monet and Van Gogh, Banksy not only makes art but reinvigorates it'
Daily Mail
'This is a serious critical take on the artist's guerrilla approach to art and art history. It just turns out that Grovier has the same iconoclastic approach to the history of art as Banksy him (or her) self. And the copious illustrations will make you chuckle. Buy it for anyone who didn't go see the Banksy exhibition in Glasgow last year. Or did, for that matter'
The Herald, The Best Art Books for Christmas
'A refreshing look at art history by showing how Banksy has plumbed its depths'
Creative Review
'Insightful'
Kirkus Reviews
'Playful and provocative'
Literary Review
'By comparing Banksy’s works to those from art history, this book shines a new light on the street artist’s past projects and how much he refers to art historical masterpieces. By drawing comparisons with prehistoric cave art through to the likes of Salvador Dali and Damien Hirst, it’s a new take on Banksy'
FAD
'Captivating'
Publishers Weekly
'This is Kelly Grovier, so pin back your shell-likes and pay attention ... Suddenly, there’s a lot more to [Banksy] than just stencils and spray cans'
Artbookreview
'From his views on art and creativity to his take on digital life, this fascinating book gives an overview of the artist's thoughts and opinions'
Good Housekeeping
'Kelly Grovier makes an impassioned case on the power of Banksy’s intertextual artworks - drawing on everyone from Claude Monet to Damien Hirst—that reanimate bygone paintings for a contemporary audience. By taking these pieces outside the museums and into the urban landscape, Banksy tries to challenge the celebrity, status and elitism that insulates these revered artworks and democratizes access to the masses - a phenomenon in which Banksy himself is now, ironically, participating'
The Observer, USA
'How Banksy Saved Art History gives away one of [Banksy's] secrets. He may not like the word [art], but Banksy is highly knowledgeable about the paintings and sculptures of the past'
The Spectator, Year's Best Art Books
'Kelly Grovier is a breezily pranksterish sort of writer, and his latest book How Banksy Saved Art History sets him in the company of an artist of like-minded instincts called Banksy, who forever sends us backwards in an off-kilterish sort of way. Grovier's thesis ... is that Banksy is always driving us into the company of artists who came before him in order to tease, reflect, and generally have a bit of fun and games, often of the quite learned kind, at their expense'
The Tablet, 'Brushes with Brilliance'
'The copious illustrations will make you chuckle. Buy it for anyone who didn’t go to see the Banksy exhibition in Glasgow last year. Or did, for that matter'
The Herald
'The new, beautifully illustrated book examines another side of the artist – Banksy the art historian, possibly one of the most discerning of our times … Turning his attention to words as diverse as Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, Van Gogh’s Sunflowers and Damien Hirst’s spot paintings, Banksy gives them a spectacular twist'
The Art Society Magazine
Product Information
Book Details
Format: Hardback
Size: 24.6 x 18.6 cm
Extent: 208 pp
Illustrations: 139
Publication date: 12 September 2024
ISBN: 9780500027059
About the Author
Kelly Grovier is a columnist and feature writer for BBC Culture and his writings on art have appeared in the Times Literary Supplement, the Independent, The Sunday Times, the Observer, RA Magazine and Wired. He is the author of several books, including A New Way of Seeing: The History of Art in 57 Works (2018), On the Line: Conversations with Sean Scully (2021) and The Art of Colour (2023), published by Thames & Hudson. He is co-founder of the scholarly journal European Romantic Review.
