Spanish police uncover syndicate allegedly selling fake Banksy pieces

March 12, 2024 10:59 PM

Spanish police uncover syndicate allegedly selling fake Banksy pieces for up to $2480 each. Four people have been arrested as part of the syndicate suspected of selling up to 25 pieces world wide.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries (11 comments total)

Wait, so they could have made up to $75,000, gross? Between four people?

I know artists don't get paid much (if at all) but it still seems unimpressive. I think I'd let them have it. Certainly not worth reporting on. Did the labour costs even shake out to minimum wage in Spain?
posted by Audreynachrome at 11:31 PM on March 12 [7 favorites]

Wait, $62,000, my mistake.
posted by Audreynachrome at 11:32 PM on March 12

There are ... multitudes of fake Banksys. See Pest Control, Banksy's verification/etc service. See also Di-Faced Tenners explained, Banksy's CoA (which isn't/wasn't put on Dismaland swag/street signs/etc).
posted by user92371 at 1:39 AM on March 13

How do we know one of them isn’t Banksy, though?
posted by The Pluto Gangsta at 4:48 AM on March 13 [8 favorites]

The Guardian: Legal row could finally force mystery artist Banksy to reveal his real name
posted by JoeZydeco at 7:13 AM on March 13 [1 favorite]

You want to buy art or do you want to buy an artefact? (It's a rhetorical question. For the record, I am foursquare ont he side of truth in advertising and pay the artist. Because sometimes you do want the artefact.)

Also for the record, I don't want to know Banksy's real name. Or anything else about him (her?), really.
posted by BWA at 7:38 AM on March 13 [2 favorites]

Salvador Dali did nothing wrong.
posted by The Ardship of Cambry at 10:24 AM on March 13

I thought we confirmed his name was Bob Anksy
posted by symbioid at 7:02 PM on March 13

Banksy is kitsch.
posted by Termite at 11:51 PM on March 13 [1 favorite]

Who else was hoping the punchline was going to be that Banksy was making fake Banksys?
posted by From Bklyn at 1:19 AM on March 14

Super, love to see my tax euros at work stopping these modern-day Robin Hoods. How about we get these officers on the plague of dog-shit-leavers and cigarette-butt (and pack!)-litterers here, would generate millions in revenue and make cities more beautiful and healthier.
posted by nanny's striped stocking at 1:53 AM on March 14