Banksy art forgery ring found in Spain based on his temporary Dismaland exhibition. Image source: Byrion Smith. Via Wikimedia Commons.
Spanish police have discovered a syndicate with an alleged focus on creating falsified Banksy art pieces to sell worldwide.
According to a statement by Catalonia police forces, two individuals were arrested and two more suspected of having put the pieces up for sale. The latter individuals are described as having “knowledge of the art world”.
It is believed that the Banksy forgeries were created in Zaragoza, a city in north-eastern Spain.
The syndicate is suspected to have sold at least 25 art pieces via specialized shops, auction houses in Barcelona, and online to customers in multiple countries.
The currently known countries are Germany, Scotland, Spain, and the United States.
Banksy, whose identity remains unknown, is a street artist, film director, and political activist famous for murals — ironic, satirical, or otherwise.
He is known for creating his pieces in surprising locations, from London to the West Bank.
His pieces are sought after in the art world, with the forgeries in Zaragoza selling for up to 1,500 euros ($2,480) per work.
The syndicate claimed that the forgeries had been created as part of Banksy’s Dismaland project, a temporary exhibition set up in 2015.
The exhibit was located in a British seaside town called Weston-super-Mare, found near Banksy’s home city of Bristol.
Dismaland showcased a decrepit fairytale castle surrounded by a murk-filled moat. Model boats on a pool full of refugees were also featured.
The installation was described as “the UK’s most disappointing new visitor attraction”.
The forgeries were made with spray paint on cardboard and had false certificates of authenticity.
The police stated that they detected the sale of fake Banksy works in 2023 and began their investigation.
The workshop in Zaragoza was discovered in December.
“Young followers of Banksy’s urban art who had economic problems created the works,” the statement said.
The investigation is ongoing.
