In celebration of the recent retrospective of renowned graffiti artist Banksy at the Glasgow Gallery of Modern Art, BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds are presenting a 10-part podcast series, The Banksy Story. The series, debuting Monday, July 17, features exclusive interviews with former employees from Banksy’s secretive print shop, Pictures On Walls, and offers behind-the-scenes stories from a crucial period in Banksy’s career.
Adding to the series’ allure is a five-minute radio interview from a person claiming to be Banksy, in which the artist’s potential voice – a soft southern accent with a hint of a Bristolian twang – is heard for the first time. Whether it’s the elusive artist’s voice or another misdirection, the recording adds a layer of intrigue to the series.
In the series, producer, presenter, and self-confessed Banksy super-fan James Peak delves into the clandestine world of Banksy, exploring the story of a street artist who transformed graffiti into high art and became a cultural phenomenon, all while maintaining his anonymity.
The Banksy Story draws on the insights of Steph Warren, a former employee of Pictures On Walls, who provides a unique perspective on Banksy’s rapid rise to fame, his interaction with the elitist art world, his philanthropic activities, and his secretive operations. It took Peak a year to persuade Warren to share her story.
Warren’s account includes the story of Banksy’s father discovering his son’s true profession for the first time during Banksy’s 2005 Crude Oils exhibition in London. She also discusses Banksy’s audacious exploits between 2003 and 2005 when he infiltrated several prestigious museums and galleries worldwide, placing his artwork on their walls.
