Beyond Banksy: Not Another Gift Shop

Featuring the found work of C215, Christiaan Nagel, Eine, Mobstr, Pablo Delgado, Phlegm, Roa, Run, Skewville, Invader, Stik, and Swoon, Beyond Banksy is the first of SMoA’s international exhibitions, adopting the guerrilla tactics of a street artist in its curation overseas. 

Following the inaugural exhibition, launched in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Beyond Banksy is an illegal guide through the streets of Shoreditch — highlighting the diversity of London's subversive art scene.

When talking on the subject of street art,  there seems to always be one in the crowd to ask: ‘Do you mean Banksy?’ As the art world becomes keen to the importance of this radical movement, many generalizations are still being made as to what ‘street art’ constitutes — essentially limiting one’s understanding of its full potential. 

To answer this question, the Street Museum of Art travelled to the streets of London, highlighting the work of twelve international artists, none of which being Banksy. Not to diminish the significance of UK’s beloved stencil artist in any way, but rather to emphasize the breadth of this movement beyond the work of one particular artist or style. 

The one thing connecting all 12 artists is their use of the urban environment, enabling the public to see and interact with their work. The city has become their primary medium.

Beyond Banksy:  Not Another Gift Shop offers an alternative look at London's Shoreditch neighborhood — encouraging the public to discover their city from an entirely new perspective.