STREET CRED

In much the same way that an ancient rhetorician would quote scriptures to lend legitimacy to their argument, Banksy invokes his own name and reputation in these works to build ethos. Banksy, not known for typical “tagging” graffiti takes the art form up a notch by creating his balloon signature out of Mylar balloons hung from the side of the wall. In a bit of a feedback loop, his over-the-top artistic sensibility lends “street cred”, or ethos, to his prankster antics, and his antics legitimize his aesthetic. Rather than merely appearing inflated, Banksy's reputation forces viewers to step back and ponder the wonder that is Banksy.

Considering his anonymity, a Banksy tag is as close as the audience may ever come to seeing Banksy’s likeness. From Rembrandt to Frida Kahlo, the visual arts have a long history of self-portraiture.