Banksy - Fraud or Genius
8 May 2025 at 13:30:00
Mayfield Village Hall, Heron Place, Watford
Girl with Balloon by Banksy, first stencilled on a wall under Waterloo Bridge on London's Southbank in 2002
Lecture begins at 2.30 PM
High Tea (optional) at 3.45 PM
Street art can either be seen in a very positive light, or as vandalism - perhaps depending on your point of view, the skill, wit and humour that may be on display and, of course, the context. Writing in The Sunday Times in August 2024 Will Gompertz, Director of Sir John Soane’s Museum which houses a collection of William Hogarth’s famous satirical masterpieces, outlined his view that Banksy is not just a self-publicist, but one of our great artists in the Hogarthian tradition.
But what do you think? Are you for or against? This lecture will help you decide.
Pepe Martinez will guide us through an examination of the reasons behind Banksy's now iconic status, looking at some of his famous stunts along the way and discussing what his influence has been on the art market of today. And together we will take a fresh look at what his legacy - if any - might be.
Pepe Martinez
Our Speaker Pepe Martinez is a Londoner born and bred and thinks it is one of the greatest cities in the world. He qualified as a London Blue Badge tourist guide in 2011, graduating at the top of his class and gaining recognition as Best Overall Practical Tour Guide.
Since qualifying he has specialised in the graffiti and street art of East London. He often combines a lecture with a walk of street art and graffiti and can even organise a practical spray session to finish, giving his groups an opportunity to have a go at creating their own works, having been inspired by the street art they've seen on their tour.
Prior to becoming a Blue Badge Guide Pepe worked for 15 years as a Tour Manager, travelling extensively all over the world.