An endless 'Rat Race'
"They 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 civilizations to their knees.”
Rats are one of Banksy's significant motives and continuous source of inspiration. They are used allegorically both as anagram of the word 'ART', and as a symbol of the vices of the human race and those who suffer treated as 'lesser than' in the darkness. For Banksy, the rat is paying homage to the graffiti artists and ,therefore, himself, who tend to appear at night, hidden in the darkness and are hunted down by the authorities, treated almost like pests. By giving the figure of the rat a voice, the artist is making a strong comment on the oppression and exclusion that is generated by the endless competition and consumerism fuelled by capitalism.
Monkey See, Monkey Do
‘Celebrate the fact the highest position in British society is not a reward for talent or hard work, but simply handed out with the accident of birth. God Save The Queen.’

Blood-thirsty
This image of the queen used for his provocative and controversial Monkey Queen artwork is now becoming the background for another recurring protagonist in Banksy's oeuvre: the mosquito.The frustration with humankind is once more evident in Banksy's work. The Mosquito for Banksy is both a villain and a victim: it is a play on the perception of the blood-sucking insect which exists in the human mind, and a criticism of authority, violence and militarism. Just as the mosquito, countless desperate soldiers fighting in war, are caught and suffocating between duty and morality.

No introductions needed
Girl With Balloon is one of the most sought-after Banksy images for collectors, old and new. Once more, Banksy believes that the power is in the eye of the beholder. What do you see? A red heart-shaped balloon that has been universally recognised as a symbol for dreams, aspirations, hope, and a girl who either struggles or is about to catch the balloon, symbolising the childlike purity. Whether you see the girl losing or grabbing the balloon, the artwork can be viewed as loss of innocence, or arrival of joy.
This work originally appeared in London’s Southbank accompanied by a quotation that read, 'there is always hope' and was meant to be covered up by the local council, however the work became the subject of the most talked about public art stunt in history in 2018. A Girl with Balloon shredded itself while in auction and just as the hammer came down on a final £1.4 million bid at Sotheby's Evening sale. Prank or Protest? Who knows, but one thing is certain: The Girl with Balloon is 'going,going,gone..' down in history as the first ever artwork created in an auction room.