In this personal piece, one that was created without the intent for commercial sale, the artist allows viewers to peer into his stencil-framed eyes, Banksy’s ‘windows to the soul’. When we do, he cheekily throws a splash of paint right back at us, showing us that having fun with his painted creations and the teasing interplay with his audiences, is always foremost in his mind. He creates a ‘spectacle’ of this work.

This artwork is created on wood and has the artist’s fingerprints around its corners. It is also slightly studio-soiled, just like the Zapatista footballer piece. The painting was created circa 2001 when Banksy was still working from his Wall of Sound-provided studio in West London. 

This is the only Banksy self-portrait that exists in any private or public collection, which reveals an ‘unmasked’ insight into Banksy’s identity.