As Banksy announces their first art exhibition in 14 years, opening tomorrow at the Gallery of Modern Art, we remember the artists’ first exhibition in Glasgow that arrived at a defining point in the artist’s career. Banksy began as a freehand graffiti artist in Bristol from 1990 to 1994. During this time he met Bristol photographer Steve Lazarides who began selling Banksy’s artwrok.
By 2000, their chosen medium was stencilling ensuring a quick installation process. The striking and subversive images and slogans that established Banksy’s global reputation in the art work began to emege.
A year before the first Banksy exhibition in Los Angeles, and two years before the Turf War exhibition in a London warehouse that featured subverted paintings and Union Flag motifs, the artist was in Glasgow.
Exhibition photographs by Steve Lazarides.
9. Inside The Arches
“We worked our asses off and put up a great show. Only trouble is the promoters hadn’t put the same level of care and attention we did and effectively the show was the only washout I can ever remember him having.” | Banksy
10. Banksy is back
“Maybe that’s why he’s back. Revenge.” | Banksy
11. Inside the lost exhibition
The exhibition ran 1st-18th March 2001. | Banksy
12. Subverted art
The main artworks for the Banksy exhibition.