Banksy 'may abandon commercial art'

Following his month-long unofficial residency painting the streets of New York, Banksy suggested that he might abandon galleries.

12:31 10 October 2013

Banksy, a self-styled guerilla artist, who has sold his artwork for millions of dollars, has agreed to a rare interview with a New York publication conducted via email where he suggested regretting his commercial success.

The British artist, whose identity remains a secret, told the Village Voice: "I started painting on the street because it was the only venue that would give me a show.”

"Now I have to keep painting on the street to prove to myself it wasn't a cynical plan.”

"Commercial success is a mark of failure for a graffiti artist."

"We're not supposed to be embraced in that way."

He added: "Obviously people need to get paid - otherwise you'd only get vandalism made by part-timers and trust-fund kids.”

"But it's complicated, it feels like as soon as you profit from an image you've put on the street, it magically transforms that piece into advertising."

"When graffiti isn't criminal, it loses most of its innocence."

The artist has started a new project whereby he creates a new piece of art on the streets of New York for each day in October.