Two art collectors are taking legal action against Banksy’s authentication company, Pest Control, in a dispute that could finally force the elusive street artist to reveal his real name. Nicky Katz and Ray Howse are suing for breach of contract after waiting three years for Pest Control to verify the authenticity of a print titled Monkey Queen, which depicts the late Queen Elizabeth as a bejewelled primate.
The pair acquired the print for £30,000 in 2020 from the estate of a deceased Banksy collector, but found it came without paperwork detailing its provenance. They submitted the work to Pest Control, which is responsible for issuing certificates of authenticity for the artist’s pieces, but claim the company has failed to give a definitive answer. Mr Katz, a 65-year-old Londoner, said the print is worth between £55,000 and £70,000, and accused Pest Control of “sitting on the fence”.
“They claim to be the official validators of this artist’s work. But this has been going on for three years,” he said. “We’re in no man’s land, and it’s a lot of money. We have had our tails pulled for the whole three years.” The collectors paid £50 for the authentication service, which Pest Control’s website likens to an “MOT for the art world”, guaranteeing that a piece is legitimate and can be bought, sold or insured.
The case has reignited speculation about Banksy’s true identity, a mystery that has endured for decades. Suspects have included Massive Attack’s Robert Del Naja, Gorillaz co-creator Jamie Hewlett, and Neil Buchanan, former host of TV’s Art Attack. In 2008, the Daily Mail claimed Banksy was Robin Gunningham, a former public schoolboy, but the artist denied it. The only known audio evidence of Banksy revealing his first name comes from a 2003 BBC interview, in which he responds to the name “Robert Banks” by saying: “It’s Robbie.”
Mr Katz insisted that legal action was the only way to force a resolution. “We’re suing Pest Control for breach of contract. They’ve had three years to do what I paid them to do, which by any standard is plenty of time to deal with the situation.” He also criticised the monopoly Pest Control holds over validating Banksy’s work, noting that with other artists, experts can provide opinions, whereas without a Pest Control certificate, a Banksy piece cannot be reliably authenticated, dramatically affecting its value.
