The Current

Has Banksy’s true identity finally been revealed?

Mar 17, 2026
Blake Morrison, an investigative reporter for Reuters who led the probe into Banksy’s identity, speaks about the long hunt across Ukraine and New York. He outlines how documentary evidence and geolocation tied a name to early murals. The conversation covers links to Massive Attack, why a name change might explain contradictions, and whether revealing identity alters the artist’s mystique.
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INSIGHT

Evidence Links Banksy To Robin Gunningham

  • Reuters pieced together records and eyewitness leads linking Banksy to Bristol origins and a name change from Robin Gunningham.
  • Investigators found a handwritten court confession tying the 2000 billboard defacement to Robin Gunningham and traced Banksy’s footprint shifting after 2008.
INSIGHT

Ukraine Murals Point To A Different Trail

  • Reuters found Robert Del Naja present in Ukraine when murals appeared, while no evidence showed Robin Gunningham there.
  • That mismatch pushed investigators to conclude the Banksy identity evolved and that different people or a name change explained activity abroad.
ANECDOTE

Ukraine Photo Lineup Sparked The Investigation

  • Reuters followed a tip from a Reuters journalist in Ukraine who used a photo lineup of rumored Banksys and elicited a confirming reaction.
  • That on-the-ground tip connected with records showing Robert Del Naja’s presence in Ukraine.
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