Yahoo News Street artist Banksy named UK's favourite artist of all time
Street artist Banksy has topped a poll to be named the UK’s favourite artist of all time.
The world-famous artist, known for daubing his works on buildings, walls and bridges, beat off competition from the likes of Monet and Van Gogh.
A poll of more than 2,000 UK adults, carried out by YouGov for Homes and Antiques magazine, asked respondents to name their favourite artist of all time.
As well as topping the table Banksy - who hit the headlines last October after his work ‘Girl With Balloon’ shredded itself straight after it was sold for more than £1m at auction - was the only living artist to make the top 10.
The top 20 included artists from various eras from the 14th century right up to the modern day.
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Homes and Antiques editor Mel Sherwood said: “It is both surprising and exciting to see Banksy at the top of this poll.
“His appearance in the top spot is reflective of the current popularity of street art, which is a burgeoning collecting area.”
She added: “This enigmatic character has done so much to make art accessible – he takes it out of the gallery walls and onto the streets, literally.
“And with his dark sense of humour and secretive approach, he truly has captured the hearts, minds and gaze of the nation.”
Earlier this month, a newly-unearthed news report from 2003 claimed to show Banksy speaking on camera ahead of his Turf War exhibition 16 years ago.
Here is the top 20 from the YouGov poll carried out for Homes & Antiques magazine:
Banksy
Claude Monet
Vincent Van Gogh
John Constable
Leonardo Da Vinci
JMW Turner
Picasso
Salvador Dali
JS Lowry
Michaelangelo
Rembrandt
David Hockney
Henry Moore
Rodin
Jack Vettriano
Andy Warhol
Caravaggio
Degas
Magritte
Anthony Gormley
