Giant Banksy exhibition is coming to Toronto

Just as the city’s art connoisseurs prepare to bid adieu to Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirrors, there’s a new blockbuster exhibit coming to town that will likely also inspire lineups and a frenzy of selfies.

Making its North American debut, The Art of Banksy opens June 13 for a four-week run at 213 Sterling Road in the city’s west end. It is an unauthorized exhibition of more than 80 works by the world famous (and anonymous) British street artist, reportedly valued at over $35 million. It has been curated from private collections by Steve Lazarides, Banksy’s former agent, who had a falling out with the artist in 2008. The Art of Banksy has been displayed in Melbourne, Amsterdam, Tel Aviv, Auckland and, most recently, Berlin.

Banksy’s sly artworks have popped up in cities around the world and have become much sought-after artworks. He remains anonymous, but in 2010, he swung through Toronto and put up several paste-ups here, including one that remains behind Plexiglas on the back patio of an Esplanade bar, and another that was “rescued” and placed behind glass in a PATH corridor at 1 York Street. Although Banksy is most famous for his street art, Lazarides wants it to be clear that the work in the exhibit has not been taken from public spaces.

“Street art is supposed to be ephemeral, it’s supposed to be here today, gone tomorrow. It’s not supposed to be there forever,” Lazarides explained at an event Monday to announce the exhibition. “The stuff done on the streets is done in a short time, and it is site specific for the community. I was absolutely adamant that nothing in the show was taken from the streets.”

The majority of the work is taken from shows Banksy did in the early 2000s. It contains canvases and other works, as well as photos and context from Lazarides’ personal archive. It will include Balloon Girl, one of his most famous works, as well as Flag Wall, a clever update of the iconic photo of the flag-raising at Iwo Jima.

Tickets for The Art of Banksy are $35 for adults, $32.50 for students and seniors. On sale May 12 at 10 a.m. at banksyexhibit.com and Ticketmaster.