‘Gangsta Rat’ depicts a black and white rat wearing a New York Mets baseball cap, a chain necklace, and carrying a ghetto blaster. The character is an adaptation from a mural created in 2002 and is reminiscent of the New York underground style that was prevalent across the UK in the 1980s and 90s. The rat also appears to have tagged “iPow” on the wall behind him in spray paint. The image is an ironic social commentary on the ubiquity of Apple products, and POW is a clear reference to Banksy’s print publisher: Pictures on Walls.

Banksy initially released Gangsta Rat in the red colourway as an edition of 150, then later Gangsta Rat was produced in 6 rare colour-ways including blue, pink, green, grey, orange and mint. Banksy's appreciation for rats is often attributed to French stencil artist Blek le Rat, who is regarded as the ‘father of stencil graffiti’ and initiated urban art in France in the 1980s.

In 2023, an edition of Gangsta Rat sold for an impressive £114,300 at Sotheby’s Auction House as part of their solo Banksy sale.

Banksy

Renowned for his thought-provoking and politically charged artworks, the true identity of Banksy remains a mystery, adding to the allure surrounding his work. Hailing from the streets of Bristol, Banksy's art emerged in the early 2000s, characterised by stencilled designs that blended humour, social commentary, and subversive messaging. His pieces, often created under the cover of darkness, have appeared on walls and surfaces worldwide, challenging societal norms and critiquing political systems. While maintaining anonymity, Banksy has become an influential figure in the art world, challenging conventional notions of what art can be and reminding us of the power of creativity to effect change.