Banksy May Have Finally Been Identified

For more than a decade, the identity of street artist Banksy has remained a secret, although his works have attained widespread popularity. There are reports that Banksy’s identity may have finally been unveiled.

In a study published in The Journal of Spatial Science, researchers in London provided a theory that linked the street artist to a man named Robin Gunningham.

How Scientists Identified Banksy

A form of forensic technique known as geographic profiling was used by the scientists to identify Banksy. The method involves placing various crime locations through an algorithm that would set up an area where a criminal most likely resides.

The same approach was used by law enforcement groups to search for criminals. Although geographic profiling does not exactly solve crimes, it helps narrow down the suspect list.

The study compared Banksy and Robin Gunningham, showing some correlation, although not ultimately showing that they were the same person. The scientists made a list of the locations of 192 identified street pieces by Banksy in London and Bristol, the two places where the street artist is believed to have grown up.

The experts graphed these against seven suspect venues linked to Gunningham. The seven suspect sites comprised of three homes in London and four sites in Bristol. The locations include places where Gunningham was believed to have resided, attended school and played soccer.

The researchers also did not talk to Gunningham personally and could not confirm details about the man, although they acquired information via electoral rolls and press clippings.

The Results

The results showed that there was only one serious suspect and it's Gunningham. The analysis presented that the sites of the art pieces correlate well with the addresses linked to Gunningham. The ranking system of the geographic profiling approach showed that four out of the seven areas were in the proper geographic spot to garner a score that was quite close to the numbers expected by data analysts.

“I would call him an excellent suspect. He’s got connections to two entirely different cities that are involved here,” said Dr. Kim Rossmo, co-author of the study and professor at Texas State University.

According to the scientists, the statement on Banksy’s identity in 2008 was correct all along.

Both Banksy and Gunningham's family denied the link between them. Gunningham has never been contacted to comment. The man has no listed telephone number and his latest recorded London address is over a decade old. Banksy’s representative also declined to comment on the issue.