It's no different than those stock market sewing circles that little old ladies get involved with. It's amazing what a group of people can do when they come together for a common purpose. The Banksy scene is a quintessential example of this concept!

The people with money rule the world, as sad as it may be to those without.

The reason I wanted to mention it to you all was that he is someone that is very influential in the art world and it shows a lot for where his advisors think Banksy's market is going that he would invest into his work.

I think any serious art collector would not want to be seen "NOT" buying the latest auction house mover. Banksy has created a small stir in the Art establishment but still has a very long way to go before he reaches the likes of Hirst and Koons fame.

why does it matter?

have the images changed?

im sure there was a program on the telly about that guy and his hotel, something about Hirst I remember also.

Yeah there was a bit of a while back.

IMO, buying Banksy now still makes him more of a leader than a follower in the high end art community...

God you lot are all so cynical. I for one have looked at Ralphs collection before and its outstanding. He's not a lucky chap, but someone who has worked extremely hard to be able to be in the position to purchase such great art. I think its great Bill that someone, regardless of whether he is the next best thing, collects his pieces. I for one love Hurst, but I wasn't there when you could pick up a spin painting for chump change. Nor where many people on this board there 6 years ago when canvas' by Banksy went often unsold for £500. Posts like Bills are great because they add something to this board. Ralph has always been a leader as far as I can see. I for one wish I could afford his stuff. Not many people on this board I suspect with original works. Infact, I only know of Moffla who has an outstanding collection. The rest must be remaining quite for fear of being chastised as being a band wagon jumper. Cheers Bill.

I'm not saying he buys everything, I too know a few collectors that collect art works I could never afford in my life time, what I'm saying is that he has bought Banksys, why? is he into street art? the reason most of Banksys followers can relate to his work is the general age and connection with Hip Hop, graf etc etc , I doubt he has a background of the same (I'm guessing here), what he is into is, taking a risk on something that is creating a stir within the Auction houses and has had a lot of media coverage, plus being a Hirst Client will always help too.


I not knocking him at all, I wish I had a collection the same and the money to buy whatever I wanted.

Banksy should never be segmented. By granny likes him and thats just fine with me.

I dont love Banksy's work, but I gotta say it definitly has a much broader appeal than just skaters and hip hop fans. His work has a socio-political message running throughout it's whole body. I would say on the whole, art collectors, as a group are more liberal thinking and much less conservative in their views. Dont forget the 60's. Im sure a lot of people enjoy this kind of work over the old masters stuff. People connect with it in a way they connect with music. Like it or not there is no missing the message. It works very well in the present times.

Interesting thread, but a bit confusing as to what the point is in asking whether he collects banksy now that he's become fashionable or whether he's been collecting him for some time. If this guy (and I know nothing about him other than what I've read here and a few other bits and bobs over time) is "known" to be a collector of Hirst works then surely it's reasonable to assume that he woke up to Hirst when he rose to stardom practically overnight some time ago.

If you assume that - and that this guy keeps his eye on Hirst and what goes on around him - then surely it's fair to assume that he didn't have to look very far past Hirst to spot banksy coming up too? I'm merely musing on this but it doesn't seem that far-fetched a scenario to me, thus my confusion about it being apparently unconceivable (or maybe more accurately - unlikely) to others.

Still - fascinating reading. Thanks for the topic bill.

My sentiments exactly. Banksy is already white hot, commanding up to seven figures, its not really a surprise that he has some serious collectors in this price range. He is an obvious choice.

What I would really like to know is what other artists in this genre is he a fan of.

Spot on mammal. Reminds me a lot of indie music in the 80's. You were only cool if you discovered some new band who no-one had ever heard of. And of course as soon as they were popular they had "sold out". It's all bullshit.

I don't know banksy, I don't own any originals, I got in to his work later than many people on this board. To be honest even if I had been around back in the day when £500 canvasses were available I probably wouldn't have had the guts or money to buy one. Big fucking deal. I still love his work and I am sure that Ralph Burnet does too.