From Alleyways to Auction Houses:
The Rise of Banksy’s Gangsta Rat

One of the most iconic motifs created by Banksy is the 'Gangsta Rat'. It first appeared as a mural in London in 2004 and was later recreated in limited edition print in a variety of colourways. We’re excited to have a Banksy collection, which features four works from the "Gangsta Rat" collection, on display with us at Hancock Gallery in Newcastle.

Wearing a heavy chain necklace, New York Yankees baseball cap and holding a boombox. The Gangsta Rat image is said to be a tribute to the 1980s and 1990s music and urban art scene that influenced UK street culture of the early 00’s. As a contemporary nod to music’s influence on culture we see the attitude filled rat placed over a backdrop of graffiti featuring an ‘iPOW’ scrawl, a reference many think to Apple’s dominance during that period. However it’s also speculated that the message may also be referencing Banksy’s print publisher of the time, Pictures On Walls (POW).

Straight Outta Farringdon..

The rat motif first appeared in 2004 as a mural, stenciled onto a public wall in an affluent part of London, Farringdon. Its appearance provoked highly charged discussions. This was an artistic rebellion pushing the limits of society’s norms and infiltrating upper class neighborhoods. After that, Banksy released the image in red, creating 150  signed and 350 unsigned editions. The other colorways were released a year later including Mint Green, in which only 8 were printed, making it a limited edition feature of the collection. The other colourways include Pink, Lime Green, and later Orange, Blue and Grey for special Dismaland VIP collectors.

“Rats exist without permission. They are hated, hunted and persecuted. They live in quiet desperation amongst the filth. And yet they are capable of bringing entire civilisations to their knees. If you are dirty, insignificant and unloved then rats are the ultimate role model." - Banksy, MyArtBroker

Will the Real Gangsta Rat Please Stand Up..

As a source of inspiration, the character of the Rat first rose to Street Art appeal in the 1980’s where the animal popped up as stencils on the sides of Parisian buildings. Attributed to French artist Blek le Rat, regarded as the Godfather of stencil graffiti, Blek le Rat’s inspiration for the rat lay in the animal’s ongoing existence as the only ‘free’ animal in the city. Like many other prominent street artists, Banksy has often referenced Blek le Rat as a major source of inspiration for his own stencil work in the early 2000’s.

For Banksy, the rat design has featured in many of his artworks, such as 'Radar Rat', 'Love Rat', 'Welcome to Hell', 'If You Don’t Mask', 'You Don’t Get', 'The Placard Rats' and 'Parachuting Rat', ‘Welcome To Hell’ and ‘If You Don’t Mask You Don’t Get’.

Fight The Power..

Each time a rat is used in one of Banksy’s artworks, it contributes towards his ongoing social and political commentary on life. To him, they represent those who feel rejected by society but can also represent many artists and rebels. Throughout this common motif, the word ‘RAT’ serves as an anagram for the word ‘ART’ and in this collection has become a visual-verbal wordplay. Pervasive in urban environments, Banksy uses the Rat motif to portray the deterioration and harshness of urban environments. Like a rat, his artwork can be often found in unpredictable but deliberate places.

“It’s really exciting to expand our Banksy collection to include one of his most iconic motifs, the Gangsta Rat. It captures Banksy as the elusive, subversive satirist widely seen as a key force behind street art’s ability to inspire people. This collection is especially sought after due to the scarcity of some of the very rare editioned colour-ways.” - Chris Morgan, Gallery Manager

By using such a recognisable motif as the Rat, Banksy has created an inspirational legacy of symbolism that reflects his work and political attitude. Having four of the ‘Gangsta Rat’ collection at our art exhibition in Newcastle is a milestone for both the gallery and the region, the arrival of these works underscores Newcastle’s growing position on the national art map, offering collectors and the public a chance to experience museum-quality, investment-grade pieces locally. 

Want to view our full Banksy collection? Come and visit us or view the full collection online here