The year: 2012. The place: Dalston’s Stoke Newington Road. Like much of the area at the time, the road was a mix of sharpened-up shop fronts and newly-minted bars alongside old school markets and local caffs. In the midst of it all, Hang-Up’s early days' gallery premises drew press attention and a curious art crowd with its legendary opening nights and pioneering exhibitions. But, from 2016, the biggest draw of all was down a few steps from the ground floor, in the dark cocoon of the basement: the Banksy Bunker.
The first and only space dedicated to permanently displaying Banksy’s work, our bunker tapped into the zeitgeist of a generation. Banksy subverted the art market, called out the big corporations that were taking over the high streets, and offered the chance to be part of something – a street art movement that felt relevant and exciting. Exhibiting some of the artist’s most famous works and rare artist's proofs, Hang-Up’s Banksy Bunker offered fans the chance to browse one of the country’s most exciting collections – and the largest collection of privately-owned Banksy prints open to the public for free viewing in the UK.
Take a glimpse back in time with our archive photographs from the space…
![The original Banksy Bunker was – confusingly – upstairs, behind a metal door straight from a prison cell.](https://assets.hanguppictures.com/banksy/Banksy-Bunker/_size1500x/hang-up-gallery-banksy-bunker-upstairs3.jpg)
The original Banksy Bunker was – confusingly – upstairs, behind a metal door straight from a prison cell.
![Behind it, a cornucopia of the best Banksy’s: from Girl With A Balloon to Pulp Fiction, via Christ with Shopping Bags.](https://assets.hanguppictures.com/banksy/Banksy-Bunker/_size1500x/hang-up-gallery-banksy-bunker-upstairs2.jpg)
![Behind it, a cornucopia of the best Banksy’s: from Girl With A Balloon to Pulp Fiction, via Christ with Shopping Bags.](https://assets.hanguppictures.com/banksy/Banksy-Bunker/_size1500x/hang-up-gallery-banksy-bunker-upstairs.jpg)
Behind it, a cornucopia of the best Banksy’s: from Girl With A Balloon to Pulp Fiction, via Christ with Shopping Bags.
As our collection grew, so did the space. The Banksy Bunker went downstairs…
![The entrance to the Banksy Bunker in 81 Stoke Newington Road.](https://assets.hanguppictures.com/banksy/Banksy-Bunker/hang-up-gallery-banksy-bunker-2017-2.jpg)
The entrance to the Banksy Bunker in 81 Stoke Newington Road.
![The Royal corner raised a few eyebrows](https://assets.hanguppictures.com/banksy/Banksy-Bunker/_size1500x/hang-up-gallery-banksy-bunker-2017.jpg)
The Royal corner raised a few eyebrows
![The space doubled as a bar for the gallery’s busy opening nights and special events](https://assets.hanguppictures.com/news/hang-up-gallery-lauren-baker-banksy-bunker2.jpeg)
![The space doubled as a bar for the gallery’s busy opening nights and special events](https://assets.hanguppictures.com/news/hang-up-gallery-lauren-baker-banksy-bunker.jpeg)
The space doubled as a bar for the gallery’s busy opening nights and special events
![Rats everywhere…](https://assets.hanguppictures.com/banksy/Banksy-Bunker/_size1500x/hang-up-gallery-2017-banksy-bunker-love-rat-gangsta-rat.jpg)
Rats everywhere…
Some of Banksy’s most iconic images adorned the walls
![The rare 'Kate Moss (Black/White) AP' and 'Lenin on Skates' canvas.](https://assets.hanguppictures.com/banksy/Banksy-Bunker/_size1500x/banksy-kate-moss-ap-black-white-hang-up-gallery-bunker.jpg)
![The rare 'Kate Moss (Black/White) AP' and 'Lenin on Skates' canvas.](https://assets.hanguppictures.com/banksy/Canvas/_size1500x/banksy-lenin-canvas.jpg)
The rare 'Kate Moss (Black/White) AP' and 'Lenin on Skates' canvas.
![People travelled from as far as the US and Asia to see the collection](https://assets.hanguppictures.com/banksy/Banksy-Bunker/_size1500x/Hang-Up-Gallery-2017-17.jpg)
![People travelled from as far as the US and Asia to see the collection](https://assets.hanguppictures.com/banksy/Banksy-Bunker/_size1500x/hang-up-gallery-2017-banksy-bunker-laugh-now.jpg)
![People travelled from as far as the US and Asia to see the collection](https://assets.hanguppictures.com/banksy/Banksy-Bunker/_size1500x/hang-up-gallery-banksy-bunker.jpg)
People travelled from as far as the US and Asia to see the collection
For more information on buying or selling your Banksy through Hang-Up, please get in touch. See the Banksy works we currently have available...
Amanda Hyde
Writer
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