Controversial Banksy art exhibit coming to Cincinnati. But is it Banksy approved?

Victoria Moorwood, Cincinnati Enquirer
·2 min read
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The work of street artist Banksy will be on display for a new immersive art exhibition, Banksyland, at a secret Over-the-Rhine location.
The work of street artist Banksy will be on display for a new immersive art exhibition, Banksyland, at a secret Over-the-Rhine location.

Banksyland, a traveling art exhibit that promises to immerse visitors in the works of the British street artist and activist Banksy, is coming to Cincinnati.

The exhibit will be hosted at an undisclosed Over-the-Rhine location May 5-7. According to the tour's website, ticketholders will be informed of the exact location one to two weeks before the event.

More than 80 art pieces and installations will be featured at the first-ever Cincinnati exhibit, including some original Banksy works, according to the website. It will also have salvaged street art and "never-before-seen immersive installations."

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Tickets for Banksyland range from $29 to $59.
Tickets for Banksyland range from $29 to $59.

However, Banksy is not being paid for the tour. The exhibit is produced by One Thousand Ways, an international arts company, and according to the Banksyland website, the artist's representatives declined to accept money or royalties from the event.

Pest Control, Banksy's official handling service, also says on its website, "Banksy is not involved or associated" with any exhibits showing his art.

The disconnect between the exhibit and Banksy himself is the source of some controversy on social media. That, and the fact that the tour commercializes Banksy's often anti-capitalism message (e.g., there is a gift shop on site).

Tickets range from $29 to $59 for the VIP experience. Students can get discounted tickets for $22 and there is a means-based ticket program available, offering low-cost and free tickets.

“Our goal is to create accessibility for this work,” Britt Reyes, vice president of operations for Banksyland, told the Los Angeles Times.

The exhibit has traveled to a handful of other cities, and the website warns that upcoming dates have a "high sell out risk."

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Banksyland, unauthorized Banksy art exhibit, coming to Cincinnati