Uncovering Banksy's Early Days

For decades, Banksy has captivated the world with his provocative street art, shrouded in anonymity and mystery. Yet, long before his murals sold for millions, the artist left an indelible mark on the lives of teenagers in a small Bristol youth club.

In the late 1990s, as Banksy was on the cusp of fame, Peter de Boer, a senior youth worker in Lawrence Weston, enlisted the rising graffiti artist to teach art workshops for local teens.

At the time, Banksy was just beginning to make a name for himself with works like the now-iconic Mild Mild West mural in Stokes Croft.

For a modest £50 fee—barely enough to cover his spray paints—Banksy collaborated with 11 to 16-year-olds to create vivid and imaginative murals on the walls of the youth club.

Photos from those sessions, now released with Banksy’s face obscured, show a young artist working side by side with teens, guiding them as they sprayed colourful, meaningful images.

The murals depicted everything from cows reacting to falling bombs, to fantastical robots and aliens in a circus setting.

Despite their creativity, the murals were repeatedly painted over to make room for new projects. De Boer himself admits to painting over a Banksy and even discarding one of his stencils, an act he views without regret. “Back then, it was much more about engaging young people,” he said.

Banksy’s time at the club wasn’t about notoriety or money. “He didn’t have an ego,” de Boer reflected. “It wasn’t more Banksy than the young people—it was a 50/50 thing.”

Decades later, the murals may be gone, but their impact lingers in the memories of those who created them.