Urban Art Association

every art movement has it's top few names,
I.e Hirst & Emin from the Brit art period.
But if I have a Chapman brother's installation of naked children with nobs for noses wearing Nike trainers in my living room.
My dinner guests may not know the artist's name, but the piece is sure to be discussed amongst them.

Yeah, in some ways the more recognizable an artists work gets by the public the less attractive it looks on your walls maybe its just a thing in your head, but the artists name and profile start to overshadow the image you loved when you first got it.

I shall sit firmly on the fence if I may.
For me, as long as I like what's on my walls, recognisable or not, that's all I am concerned about. I agree that many more people are recognising Banksys work, my Dad regularly calls with 'possible Banksy street piece spottings!'
I agree with art as a discussion topic, most the stuff on my walls will be discussed at some point just for some of the Banksy pieces, people can name the artist.

All good.

After all - what are the wrong reasons for buying art?

If you put a picture on the wall and then invite someone into the house they are likely to see it. Should you not be flattered if they go out and buy a picture by the artist? Or would you take it down as now it is less 'exclusive' - thus shooting yourself in the foot assuming you still like the opicture itself.

Being passionate about art, is there anything worse than a visitor commenting about a (precious) piece, usually negative.

Anyone had the "my daughter could have done a better job" yet?

I get that one too... The best reply (it always works) is "see that 'poster' there... I paid £150 for that poster"... let them come up with a smart arse reply... then... "yeah I know, that poster is worth about six grand now..."

I think Banksy has always wanted as wide an audience as possible for his work, I'm sure he'd be pleased to hear that people with no interest in art know of his work and can recognise it. I was at the bank sorting out a money transfer for a banksy purchase last week, and I asked for the word 'Banksy' to be used as the ref for the payment, 'oh isn't he that American artist, I brought my son a copy of one of his pieces for his bedroom wall' was her enthusiastic -if slightly inaccurate - response. I'm in the wilds of West Yorks, not London.

...beautifully put and very amusing ;D ;D ;D

How often does she read these pages Top?

last night i had someone say to me "i just dont get it, how is stencil art? where is the technique? just seems lazy to me, why would you want this on your walls?"

last weekend i had some people over who thought EVERY stencil artist (eelus, adam k, etc) was banksy....haha

and lastly, when i describe banksy to ANYONE in the states, all i have to do is mention the pink elephant and they know...regardless of their age.

but no, i appreciate more people knowing the artists i like...im not an art snob, dont need to keep it to my self. more people that enjoy it, the more the artists message might get out there, right?

i love the fact that artists like banks, d and walker are considered actual "ARTISTS" by the legitimate art community att this point. its sort of a revolution....like haring, warhol, picasso

enough of that, im going on little sleep.

It's totally a bad thing, imagine if non-art type people were able to recognize that Warhol guy, that would totally make his images lose their power.

It seems to me that if an artist is able to break beyond art aficionados into the "general public" it would show how talented and how much skill that said artist has.
I don't think Banksy new found recognition amongst the masses will affect either his images or art.

Having everyone get hip to your favorite indie band makes it less desirable listening material. Saying, "I was into them before everyone else." gets tiring after a while. Best to sell the piece and move along to the next trick.

Um Bongo, Um bongo they drink it in the jungle.....

What I meant to say was that Peter Kennard makes a good point when he says that there are people in the art establishment that don't want to see controversial/political art up in galleries. I have no doubt they wish it didn't exist!

That is one very good reason for it to be there, in homes and on the streets.

It should irritate and agitate those that think such things and for average Joe like me, it makes me ponder about what is going on in the big bad world not just in my little cosy bubble and in some cases maybe even doing something about it. Hopefully, anyway. ;D

I was in a Futon bedding store earlier today and on the wall they had four Warhol Monroe reproductions hanging on a wall above a bed, I had a good chuckle as I know Banksy Kate's will likely be there, replacing the Warhol's in a few more years.