Latest news with #Lazarides
Metro
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Banksy's manager reveals the central London building hiding his 'unseen' artwork
A girl holding a balloon, the House of Commons filled with chimpanzees and two police officers kissing. Banky's artworks are famous and adored across the world. But now his former manager and 'right-hand man' has revealed the street artist's pieces which the public know nothing about – including one in the heart of London. Steve Lazarides, who was Banksy's manager from 1997 to 2008, told Metro about an unknown treasure trove of graffiti in the Swiss Embassy. Asked whether there is a Banksy that no one has ever seen, Lazarides said: 'Yes, the Swiss Embassy car park. 'The old Swiss ambassador put on a rave in the car park. He invited Banksyand [graffiti artist] Chu. And they smashed it.' The party was held in 2001 by ambassador Bruno Spinner as part of a bid to shake-up their image. According to Lazarides, the car park – which is between Regent's Park and Hyde Park – houses '10 to 15′ separate Banksy artworks. These includes pictures of Lenin, the Mona Lisa, and monkeys. 'It was all a bit mad,' Lazarides said of the little-known event. That is not the only work by the Bristol artist which has gone unnoticed, with a show in the same year turning out to be a complete flop. Lazarides told Metro: 'We did an exhibition in Glasgow and nobody turned up. 'It show his graffiti and it got badly promoted.' The display at The Arches, which showcased his art alongside artist Jamie Reid, was called 'Peace Is Tough'. Furious at the no shows, Banksy had a daring response in mind. Lazarides explained: 'He went out the next day and he punished Glasgow.' The graffitist and left drawings 'everywhere' across the city. According to an unofficial website chronically Banksy, the exhibition featured images of monkeys firing pistols, a monkey imitating the Queen and more Mona Lisas. Lazarides spoke to Metro as he unveiled his collection of photographs and artwork, many from their time together, to collectors at an event hosted by the Grove Gallery. The pair, who are both from Bristol, met in the 1990s when Banksy was doing a feature for the magazine Sleazenation. Photographer Lazarides then took Banksy's portrait and a few weeks later got the call to photograph another piece by the now famous graffitist. The pair then worked together for a decade as Banksy's fame skyrocketed, with Lazarides snapping everything he did. The photographer has also told Metro about the moment Banksy was seconds away from being arrested and exposed by police, while spraying the word 'boring' onto the side of the National Theatre on the South Bank. Banky's art now sells for millions, but Lazarides said some of his stunts have also faded into oblivion. An example of this is actually one of his most audacious spectacles yet. In 2004, Banksy secretly planted a 20-foot statue in the middle of Clerkenwell Green in central London. The statue depicted the figure of justice as a prostitute with leather boots and a thong The work, called 'Our Lady of Justice' had a plinth which read: 'Trust no-one'. The photographer said despite the success of the event, it faded out of public memory. He explained: 'It was well attended, there were thousands of people. 'But then it just went away. No one ever really talks about it. It never caught people's imagination. More Trending 'But I thought it was one of his best things.' The secretive artist has called commercial success 'a mark of failure' and encouraged people not to buy his work. But with an estimated net worth of more than £15 million, according to MailOnline, Banksy must make his bucks somehow. And it's not from selling his most famous artworks found on outside walls. When those are up for auction, it's usually landlords and art dealers who take the profits. The artist's piece Love is in the Bin – which consists of his painting Girl with Balloon partially shredded – sold for £18.5 million at auction in 2021. Banksy instead makes money from selling prints of his iconic pieces, rather than the originals themselves. These range from unsigned, unnumbered pieces costing £400 to £800, to £40,000 or even £130,000 limited runs, according to Bristol-based artdealer Huw Lougher, industry publication Artspace reported. Celebrities like Christine Aguilera, Kate Moss and Bono have bought Banksypieces over the years. Just five years later, Jolie spent another £200,000 on a Banksy piece at his exhibition in Los Angeles, the Evening Standard reported. Such exhibitions, which have taken place from LA to London, are another key source of Banksy's income. Huge crowds flocked to his hometown for the Banksy v Bristol Museum show in 2009. Banksy's most recent artwork got far more attention. It featured a mural of a lighthouse shining with the words, 'I want to be what you saw in me' printed on it. Last summer, London went wild when Banksy unveiled nine animal-inspired works across the capital. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Coward who murdered ex's 'gentle' dad in 'revenge' for break-up jailed for life MORE: 5 areas within commuting distance of London with prices under £400,000 MORE: Experts warn London to Berlin trains 'might not happen'
Metro
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Banky's right-hand man reveals moment artist was 'seconds' from being exposed
Banksy's former manager has revealed when the anonymous graffiti artist was inches away from being caught in the act. Steve Lazarides, who was Banksy's manager from 1997 to 2008, told Metro the graffiti legend was 'seconds' away from being arrested and revealing his name. The graffitist's identity has been a well-kept secret since he rose to prominence in the 1990s, leading to wild speculation and rumours as to who the Bristol artist could be. The world almost found out back in 2004, when Banksy was spraying the word 'boring' onto the side of the National Theatre on the South Bank. Lazarides was on the other side of the road during the close shave with officers as he was taking pictures of the artist in action. Banksy's agent told Metro: 'Just as he finishes writing it, the police were about to walk around the corner and see him. 'I was too far away. I saw them coming, but I couldn't shout, the street was too noisy. 'He was just seconds away from being caught.' Lazarides was also bound by his duty as the photographer not to get involved. 'As the documenter, I am not able to help,' he explained. 'My job was to capture what is going on.' Unaware, Banksy made a very lucky escape and avoided the approaching officers. The photographer recalled: 'He rolled off and went to the walkway underneath.' While street artists are far less likely to be arrested nowadays, Lazarides said back in 2004 Banksy would have been apprehended if caught, which is why he kept his identity anonymous. This likely would have meant his secretive cover would have been blown. Asked if his arrest that day would have led to his identity being exposed, Lazarides answered: 'Probably, because he would have given his name to the police.' According to Banksy's former manager, the artist came close to being unmasked 'numerous times', but he was 'remarkably lucky to get away with it' throughout his career. The pair, who are both from Bristol, met when Banksy was doing a feature for the magazine Sleazenation. Photographer Lazarides then took Banksy's portrait and a few weeks later got the call to photograph another piece by the now famous graffitist. The pair then worked together for a decade as Banksy's fame skyrocketed, with Lazarides snapping everything he did. Lazarides spoke to Metro as he unveiled his collection of photographs and artwork, many from their time together, to collectors at an event hosted by the Grove Gallery. Many of these include snaps of Banksy with his back to the camera as he worked. The photographer said he once asked Banksy to give up his anonymity during the early stage of his career, saying his true identity is too unexpected to be believed. Banksy emerged as a street artist in Bristol in the early 1990s. He's thought to have been born in the Gloucestershire town of Yate in the 1970s, starting his artistic journey in the nearby city with a politically engaged music scene. As part of Bristol's DryBreadZ Crew, he was influenced by other figures in the Underground Scene like 3D, also known as Robert Del Naja, a member of Massive Attack. By the 2000s when he appeared to move to London, Banksy had swapped freehand designs for stencilled ones, allowing him to produce pieces more quickly. Already the most famous street artist in the UK, he started turning graffiti into high art favoured by the wealthy, with exhibitions in Britain and abroad. Many of his murals call for peace and poke fun at authority and inequality, featuring characters like rats, police and children. He explained: 'I said to him, 'Why don't you just out yourself?' because then he could breathe and live your life. 'I said to him: 'No one is going to believe you. Everyone has that Robin Hood figure in their head and it is not you.'' More Trending But Lazarides said Banksy 'just wouldn't do it.' Since then, canvases of Banksy's work that used to be sold for just £200 at the beginning of his career, now go for millions. His most recent artwork featured a mural is of a lighthouse shining with the words, 'I want to be what you saw in me' printed on it. London went wild last summer when Banksy unveiled nine animal-inspired works across the capital. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: The ultimate BYOB pottery experience from just £23: 10 unmissable Time Out deals MORE: London's 'grown up' ice cream pairings and 14 more things to try this weekend MORE: Model's fury at phone snatchers after thieves take her mobile twice in three months
