5 takeaways from the new Banksy exhibit

I went on a date night for its opening weekend, and we were impressed by the turnout — a mix of families, couples, art enthusiasts and casual passersby — proving the infamous British artist attracts a variety.

• Of note: The exhibit opened the same weekend that Mecklenburg County’s mask mandate was lifted. I noticed about 10% of people wearing masks.

Situational awareness: The Art of Banksy is an internationally touring show that has made appearances in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Its North American debut took place in Atlanta in September 2021, followed by a stint in Miami last month. To date, more than 1.2 million people have visited the exhibition globally, per a press release.

• It’ll run at the AvidXchange Music Factory through May 22. Tickets start at $27.50 and are available on Feverup.com/Charlotte and ArtofBanksy.com,
• The address is 817 Hamilton St.

What we’re watching: Starting April 6, the exhibit will offer a DIY section, where visitors can spray paint their own T-shirt of hoodie (starting at $30). “Supply chain issues delayed the debut of this feature during the February exhibit opening,” according to a representative of the exhibit. 

Here are 5 takeaways from my visit:

(1) It’s not all real Banksy art

The exhibition has more than 155 replicas of the pseudonymous England-based street artist, including prints, photos, sculptures and murals. It also features some certified originals.

(2) The elephant in the room

Banksy, notorious for his secret identity and political activism, doesn’t charge viewers to enjoy his art. Exhibit curator, Guillermo Quintana, tells Axios he welcomes criticism as long as it’s informed.

• “Banksy has a quote—‘copyright is for losers,’” Quintana said. “I created this so people can learn more about him.”

Of note: On his website, a section titled “PRODUCT RECALL,” lists exhibitions around the world that showcase his art without his approval. This exhibit is mentioned on that page.

• Several local artists have criticized the show. The Observer went deeper into other online criticism.
• People jumped in our Instagram comments section when we posted about the Banksy exhibition, and it was a mixed bag of thumbs-down emojis and people excited to have something new to do.

(3) The cause

For every item sold, $2 goes toward the Louise Michel organization, a nonprofit started by Banksy aimed at rescuing refugees stranded at sea.

(4) It’s supposed to be funny

Quintana says he purposefully puts thought-provoking pieces next to each other, as “intellectual jokes.” He pointed this out in a room with a portrait of Mother Teresa on one wall and portraits of Kate Moss on the other. They’re intended to juxtapose one other and represent how “millennials think versus how the older generation thinks.” 

(5) It’s Instagrammable, but not an Instagram prop

My favorite room was filled with mirrors, perfect for a selfie. Quintana told me that’s not the point of the exhibit, however.

• “This is an exhibition for people to come and think,” he said.
• The exhibit has videos from all over the world, pointing out causes that Bansky cares about. “I don’t care about how people come in, I care about how they come out of the exhibit,” he added.

Pro tip: If you haven’t been to the AvidXchange Music Factory before, you might have a hard time finding the venue. Park on the street for free, or pay for parking across the street.

Editor’s note: This story has been clarified to show that an Observer story explored online criticism, but didn’t specifically cite local artists’ criticism.